University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


JOHN  PHILLIPS  MEAKIX 


Leaves  of  Truth 

UTAH  AND  THE 
MORMONS 


BY 
JOHN  PHILLIPS  MEAKIN 


Papers,  Poems  and  Letters. 

An  Appeal  for  a  Nobler 

Manhood. 


Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 
1909 


Copyright,   1909, 
By  JOHN  PHILLIPS  MEAKIN. 


,  £/ 


DEDICATORY. 

To  the  memory  of  the  one,  in  all  the  world,  who 
developed  in  me  the  power  of  reason, 

Who  taught  me  to  be  temperate  in  all  things — 
use  everything,  abuse  nothing, 

Who  taught  me  to  act  kindly  and  to  speak 
lovingly  to  all  I  should  meet  on  life's  highway, 

Who  taught  me  that  the  highest  attainment  in 
life  was  perfect  manhood. 

Who  taught  me  that  by  character,  intellectual 
and  humane  development,  the  world  might  some 
day  be  civilized; 

To  the  one  who  sang  in  my  ears— on  my  jour- 
ney— from  boy  to  man. 

"Do  what  is  right,  let  the  consequence  follow, 

Battle  for  freedom,  in  spirit  and  might, 
And,  with  stout  hearts  look  ye  forth  till  tomorrow, 

God  will  protect  you,  do  what  is  right." 

I  dedicate  this  book 

TO  MY  MOTHER. 


Introductory. 


Men  and  Women. 

My  Brothers  and  Sisters : — Being  sole  proprie- 
tor of  myself,  it  falls  to  my  lot  to  introduce  my- 
self. 

My  name  is  John  Phillips  Meakin,  I  came  into 
this  world  in  the  same  good  old  way  that  every- 
body else  did.  The  date  was  July  9th,  1851. 
England.  My  parents  were  James  and  Sarah 
Meakin.  I  came  to  America  in  1869.  Salt  Lake 
City  has  been  my  home  ever  since.  I  married  Miss 
Sarah  Frances  Wolcott,  a  Utah  girl,  on  Novem- 
ber 25th,  1872.  Eight  children  have  blessed  our 
union;  three  have  passed  on;  five  are  living — 
boys. 

I  was  fortunate  in  being  well  born.  I  had  a 
splendid,  intellectual  mother  and  a  sturdy  good 
father;  both  were  purely  honest.  I  am  emulat- 
ing their  virtues — it  is  natural. 

Since  the  dawn  of  my  existence  I  have  been  a 
welcome  guest  at  life's  great  feast  and  the  pleas- 
ures have  continued  throughout  the  years  and  are 
growing  brighter  and  more  harmonious  every 
day. 

I  am  in  love  with  life  and  with  my  home  and 
loved  ones.  I  have  many  good  friends  and  no 


IV  INTRODUCTORY 

enemies.  "No  enemies,  you  say !"  No ;  if  I  have 
they  are  silly.  My  answer  is  not  understood. 

Thus  far  I  have  done  my  best  for  all  I've  met 
on  life's  highway,  and  the  best  can  do  no  more. 

I  have  no  regrets  for  the  past  and  no  fears  of 
the  future.  I  have  a  purpose  in  life  and  that 
purpose  is:  to  improve  myself  and  help  my  fel- 
low men  in  unfolding  the  higher  faculties  and 
sensibilities  which  are  latent  in  every  human  be- 
ing, thus  making  them  more  humane,  more 
thoughtful,  more  tolerant  and  more  kindly ;  to  ob- 
tain a  harmonious  development  in  all  phases  of 
human  life. 

I  am  not  a  "funny"  man,  but  I  am  having  a 
good  time  and  am  happy  because  there  is  sun- 
shine in  my  soul  and  no  hatred  in  my  heart. 
I  have  been  a  devout  student  and  I  carry  my 
diploma  with  me  in  mind  and  heart  always  and 
everywhere. 

PERSONAL. 

In  the  present  status  of  civilization's  unfold- 
ment  there  are  but  few  men  who  can  comprehend 
the  position  or  thought  of  a  man  who  toils  for 
and  is  ever  ready  to  appeal  for  justice  for  men, 
or  for  tribes  other  than  his  own. 

A  man  on  this  plane  must  work  irrespective  of 
appreciation  or  gratitude  from  the  masses,  letting 
the  doing  of  the  deed  carry  with  it  its  own  re- 
ward, cheered  only  by  the  consciousness  of  hav- 


INTRODUCTORY  V 

ing  been  faithful  to  the  Divine  inner  self — the 
real  man. 

I  am  proud  of  my  American  citizenship  and 
of  my  State — Utah,  but  irrespective  of  fence 
lines  I  love  my  fellow  men. 

"The  world  is  my  country; 
To  do  good  my  religion." 

The  lectures  tell  of 
"UTAH  AND  THE  MORMONS" 

what  I  told  the  people  of  the  East  about  the  peo- 
ple of  the  West. 

The  letters  tell  the  people  of  the  West  about  the 
people  of  the  East. 

The  poems  form  a  golden  chain  connecting 
both. 

In  behalf  of  Utah— 

"I  am  only  one,  but  I  am  one; 
I  cannot  do  everything, 
But  I  can  do  something, 
What  I  can  do  I  ought  to  do, 
And  by  the  grace  of  God  I  will  do." 


It  is  Glory  Enough. 

By  William  Herbert  Carruth. 

It  is  glory  enough  for  one  day 

To  have  marched  out  alone  before  the  seats  of 

the  scornful, 

Their  fingers  all  pointing  your  way; 
To  have  felt  and  wholly  forgotten  the  branding 

iron  of  their  eyes; 
To  have  stood  up  proud  and  reliant  on  only  your 

soul 
And  go  calmly  on  with  your  duty — 

It  is  glory  enough. 

It  is  glory  enough  for  one  day 

To  have  dreamed  the  bright  dream  of  the  reign 

of  right ; 
To  have  fastened  your  faith  like  a  flag  to  that 

immaterial  staff 
And  have  marched  away,  forgetting  your  base 

of  supplies. 
And   while  the   worldly   wise   see   nothing  but 

shame  and  ignoble  retreat, 
And  though  far  ahead  the  heart  may  faint  and 

the  flesh  prove  weak — 
To  have    dreamed    that  bold    dream   is    glory 

enough, 

Is  glory  enough  for  one  day. 


•Contents. 

Address  to  Liberal  Club  91 

Boston   Ill 

Beautiful  Handiwork  of  Nature 174 

Columbus  and  Brigham  Young 63 

Educational  226 

Great  Salt  Lake,  The 223 

Grasshoppers,  The 248 

Lake  and  Climate 246 

Mrs.  Weed's  Views  of  "Mormonism" 123 

Mormons,  The  Story  of  the 9 

Mind  of  the  Mob,  The 50 

Music  in  Utah  205 

New  York  as  Seen  from  a  Yacht 128 

On  the  Wing 152 

Old  Folks'  Day 243 

Out  in  the  Desert 256 

Polygamy    18 

Places  of  Worship,  Their 29 

Philosophy  of  Mormonism 32 

Prejudice    87 

Presidents,  The 16 

Portrayal     of     Poverty-stricken     Conditions 
which  Drive  Men  to  Thievery  and  Crime . .  99 

Plea  for  the  Right,  A 142 

Phases  of  Human  Life 164 

Pioneers,  The 187 

Picture   Beautiful,   A 241 

Smith,  Joseph   Fielding 69 

Smoot,  Senator  Reed 73 

Scattered   Leaves  218 


VIII  CONTENTS 

State  Emblem,  The 250 

Sunny  Side  of  Life 251 

Story  of  a  Life,  The 268 

To  Live  and  Grow 43 

Utah  and  the  Mormons 1 

What  Mormons  are  Doing 37 

Word  to  Mrs.  Schoff,  A 182 

"What  Ails  this  Town" 229 

POEMS 

A  Man 72 

A  Universal  Prayer 82 

Be  Strong  .  .„ 42 

Columbus „ 67 

Down  Here 39 

Guard  their  Action  85 

It  Is  Glory  Enough Introductory. 

It  is  Coming 110 

If  I  Were  a  Voice 276 

John  Anderson,  My  Jo 245 

Life's  Mirror   90 

My  Doctrine 41 

Not  Understood 15 

Out  to  Ol'  Salt  Lake 220 

O,  My  Father 239 

Quit  Your  Knocking 61 

Sleep,  Old  Pioneer 203 

The  Under  Dog 122 

The  Ninety  and  Nine 266 

What  Makes  a  Man 48 

We  Be  Sweethearts  .  275 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH. 


Utah  and  the  Mormons. 

"Not  a  word  of  hate  or  malice 
Would  I  weave  into  my  song ; 
From  adobe  hut  to  palace 
Was  a  weary  way  and  long." 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

Come  with  me  and  in  imagination  I  will  lead 
you  across  plains  and  rivers  and  deserts  to  the 
western  slope  of  the  great  Wasatch  range,  which 
is  the  west-most  upheaval  of  the  mighty  back- 
bone of  the  continent,  known  in  common  par- 
lance as  the  Rocky  Mountains.  They  stand  in 
a  sovereignty  all  their  own,  stand  with  out- 
stretched arms  to  welcome  you  to  the  sheltering 
valleys  of  the  golden  west  that  nestle  at  their 
base. 

Silent,  solemn  sentinels  are  these  great  moun- 
tains, and  as  one  beholds  them,  they  become  an 
inspiration,  for  they  seem  the  pillars  that  sup- 
port the  vaulted  blue  above.  In  thought  they 
become  beings  uplifting  their  heads  in  majestic 
splendor,  bidding  humanity  to  look  up.  The 
2 


2  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

winds  that  come  down  from  their  lofty  summits, 
bring  us  the  message  of  protection — promises  to 
guard  the  beautiful  valleys  at  their  feet. 

The  man  who  lives  under  the  uplifting  influ- 
ence of  these  august  sentinel  heights  assumes 
something  of  the  patience  of  eternity,  his  soul 
expands  and  his  mind  broadens,  discourage- 
ment and  narrow,  morbid  grasping  form  no  part 
of  his  life.  All  men  become  his  brothers  and 
petty  trifles  pass  him  by. 

As  we  travel  on  in  our  imaginary  journeyings, 
over  these  wondrous  heights,  mother  nature 
speaks  tenderly  to  us  and  bids  us  pause  in  one 
of  these  wondrous  gardens  of  Eden,  and  desig- 
nates it— Utah ! 

Truly  can  we  say,  using  William  Cullen  Bry- 
ant's words — 

"To  him  who  in  the  love  of  nature  holds 
Communion  with  her  visible  forms, 
She  speaks  a  various  language; 
For  his  gayer  hours  she  has  a  voice  of  gladness 
And  a  smile  and  eloquence  of  beauty; 
And  she  glides  into  his  darker  musings 
With  a  mild  and  healing  sympathy 
That  steals  away  their  sharpness 
Ere  he  is  aware." 

Friends:  We  will  leave  figures,  which  deal, 
however,  only  in  truth;  leave  poetry  that  only 
reveals  the  same,  and  come  to  plain  facts. 

Utah   occupies   an   important  position   in   the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  3 

Trans-Mississippi  group  of  States.  She  is  situ- 
ated between  the  parallels  37  and  42  North  Lati- 
tude. 

On  the  same  parallels  are  Colorado,  Kansas, 
Missouri,  Southern  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Virginia, 
Spain,  Italy,  Greece,  Turkey  and  Corea. 

The  State  of  Utah  adjoins  Colorado,  Arizona, 
Nevada  and  Idaho.  It  is  275  miles  wide  and  345 
miles  long.  Its  total  area  is  84,970  square  miles. 
Its  land  area  is  82,190  square  miles  (52,601,600 
square  acres).  Its  water  area  is  2,780  square 
miles  (1,779,200  acres),  and  it  has  a  population  of 
about  300,000. 

Utah  is  a  chain  of  beautiful  valleys,  extending 
from  the  far  north  to  the  extreme  south,  each 
gemmed  with  a  lake.  The  State  is  growing  in 
strength  and  grandeur  every  day. 

Salt  Lake  City,  the  capital  of  the  State,  and  the 
County  seat  of  Salt  Lake  County,  is  situated  100 
miles  north  and  a  little  west  of  the  geographical 
center  of  the  State.  It  was  founded  by  the  Mor- 
mons on  July  24,  1847.  It  is  the  ecclesiastical 
center  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints.  It  has  an  estimated  population  of 
100,000. 

The  city  is  laid  out  directly  to  the  points  of 
the  compass,  sloping  gradually  from  the  north. 
The  streets  are  132  feet  wide,  with  20  ft.  side- 
walks. Streams  of  water  flow  gently  down  on 
either  side  of  the  street,  with  beautiful  shade 
trees  everywhere. 


4  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Salt  Lake  City  is  really  a  fairy  garden  spot, 
nestling  at  the  foot  of  the  Wasatch  Mountains. 
Above  it  are  the  snow-clad,  cloud-kissed  peaks. 
Below  it  are  thriving  farms  and  valleys  stretch- 
ing for  miles  and  miles,  like  an  immense  checker- 
board of  yellow  and  green.  Beyond  them,  like 
a  silver  thread,  winds  the  river  Jordan.  In  the 
distance  gleams  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  the  Dead 
Sea  of  America,  the  wonder  of  the  world. 

But  today  there  is  a  cloud  of  misunderstand- 
ing over  Utah.  A  mist  exists  between  the  minds 
of  the  East  and  the  minds  of  the  West.  Let  me 
say  with  the  Poet : 

"When  the  mists  have  rolled  in  splendor 

From  the  beauty  of  the  hills; 
And  the  sunlight  falls  in  gladness 

On  the  river  and  the  rills, 
We  recall  our  Father's  promise 

In  the  rainbow  of  the  spray, 
We  shall  know  each  other  better 

When  the  mists  have  rolled  away. 

"We  shall  know  as  we  are  known, 

Nevermore  to  walk  alone; 
In  the  dawning  of  the  morning 

Of  that  bright  and  happy  day, 
We  shall  know  each  other  better 

When  the  mists  have  rolled  away." 


The  Mormon  people  have  been  all  along  the 
line,  and  are  now  being  maligned  beyond  meas- 
ure by  thoughtless  people.  When  the  Church 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  5 

was  organized  in  1830,  envy,  jealousy  and  super- 
stition were  rampant,  and  from  this  basis  the 
crowd  began  to  shout  until  it  grew  into  a  mob. 
Then  selfish  men  saw  material  gain,  and  prob- 
ably fame,  by  molding  public  prejudice  into  uses 
for  their  own  selfish  ends,  and  many  of  them  suc- 
ceeded well.  These  men  led  the  crowd  under 
the  flags  of  envy  and  hatred,  arousing  the  ever- 
ready  clamor  of  the  masses.  The  mighty  power 
of  the  press  was  brought  into  use  and  the  fires  of 
hate  and  ignorance  have  been  fanned  into  a  con- 
suming flame. 

This  cruelty  is  performed  under  the  banner  of 
the  cross  with  the  name  of  Christ  emblazoned 
upon  its  folds. 

Utah's  prosperity  and  its  advancement,  the  peo- 
ple's good  name  and  their  right  to  religious  lib- 
erty— all  of  these  natural  rights  have  been  and 
are  being  held  up  to  scorn  and  to  sacrifice  upon 
the  altars  of  revenge  and  selfishness. 

Men  whose  records  are  honor-bright,  men 
whose  characters  are  as  far  above  their  traducers 
as  are  the  stars  above  a  duck's  tracks  in  the  mud, 
are  assailed  and  vilified. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  and  the  world 
have  had  sugar-coated  pills  composed  of  sensa- 
tional falsehoods  prescribed  for  them  by  very 
smooth  doctors,  and  in  allopathic  doses  they  have 
gulped  them  down  as  sweet  morsels,  and  like 
hungry  robins  chirped  for  more.  It  is  a  great 
relish  for  people  to  talk  about  polygamy,  and  very 


6  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

fashionable  to  say  mean  things  about  the  Mor- 
mons. A  sensational  lie  embracing  the  physical 
is  always  welcome.  Truthful  mental  stories  are 
so  simple  and  uninteresting.  The  lie  that  goes 
the  farthest  is  the  lie  that  has  a  little  truth  in  it. 
The  lie  about  Utah  and  the  Mormons  has  been 
a  most  successful  one. 

The  mental  atmosphere  of  Utah  is  kept  con- 
tinually in  a  turmoil.  Families  are  disrupted, 
friendships  destroyed.  The  man  who  wrote  the 
song,  "We  Never  Speak  as  We  Pass  By,"  surely 
got  his  inspiration  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and  all  of 
this  through  chattering  tongues.  I  intend  to 
contribute  my  mite  during  my  short  life  toward 
establishing  the  kingdom  of  the  unselfish — a  no- 
bler manhood  on  earth;  that  is,  such  a  structure 
of  life  that  deceit,  envy,  and  unkindness  which 
now  hold  sway  will  be  replaced  by  intellectual 
liberty,  truth  and  reason,  with  the  golden  chain 
of  fraternal  love  binding  all  men  and  all  nations 
together  in  one  harmonious  brotherhood. 

I  have  been  a  resident  of  Salt  Lake  City  since 
the  21st  of  August,  1869.  I  know  the  Mormon 
people,  their  religion  and  their  lives,  and  their 
plan  of  operation.  The  clamor  and  abuse  going 
on  and  continually  heaped  upon  this  people  and 
their  leaders  is  unjust  and  is  born  of  ignorance 
and  low  selfishness.  It  is  an  impeachment  on  the 
intelligence  and  reasoning  powers  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  and  the  boasted  religious  liberty  of 
the  United  States. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  7 

The  one  acknowledged  mistake,  namely,  poly- 
gamy, was  righted  as  near  as  possible  from  1890 
to  1896.  The  fight  between  "Gentiles"  and  "Mor- 
mons" was  closed  during  these  years. 

All  I  ask  for  Utah  is  a  square  deal,  and  for 
the  Mormon  people  religious  toleration  and 
American  freedom  to  worship  God  according  to 
their  own  intelligence  and  dictates  of  their  con- 
science. 

Religious  intoleration  has  caused  untold  suffer- 
ing all  across  the  ages. 

In  Massachusetts  the  Protestants  have  abused 
the  Catholics,  and  the  Catholics  have  abused  the 
Protestants.  At  Summerville,  there  are  two 
monuments  standing  but  a  few  rods  apart,  one 
erected  by  Catholics  in  memory  of  a  nunnery  de- 
stroyed by  a  Protestant  mob,  and  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street  is  a  monument  erected  by  the 
Protestants  in  memory  of  a  Protestant  church  de- 
stroyed by  a  Catholic  mob. 

"What  fools  these  mortals  be/' 

My  mission  in  life  is  to  do  what  I  can  to  stop 
such  absurd  foolishness.  A  man's  religion  is  his 
own  personal,  private  concern.  We  have  no  more 
right  to  interfere  with  him  in  an  unkindly  man- 
ner as  to  his  beliefs  and  opinions  than  we  have  to 
meddle  with  his  pocketbook,  and  Shakespeare 
said  "He  who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash,"  and 
although  money  is  now  a  God  in  the  eyes  of  the 
selfish  man  it  still  remains  trash  in  comparison 


8  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

with  the  inner  soul  of  a  God-man,  soul  con- 
science, mental  and  personal  liberty. 

"Yet  I  doubt  not  thro'  the  ages  one  increasing  purpose 

runs, 
And  the  thoughts  of  men  are  widen'd  with  the  process  of 

the  suns." 

"Knowledge  comes,  but  wisdom  lingers,  and  I  linger  on 

the  shore, 
And  the  individual  withers  and  the  world  is  more  and 

more." 


The  Story  of  the  Mormons. 

The  denomination  known  as  "Mormons"  is 
properly  called  by  them,  "The  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,"  and  takes  its  basis 
from  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  the  teach- 
ings from  the  Man  of  Nazareth. 

Since  the  Church  was  organized,  a  prejudicial 
war  has  been  waged  against  it,  for  no  cause 
whatever,  unless  it  be  a  political  one,  until  it  has 
become  popular  and  fashionable  to  abuse  the 
Mormons.  It  is  a  source  of  amusement  to  listen 
to  the  stories  told  about  the  people  of  Utah.  Slush 
books  and  vile  stories  find  a  ready  sale,  if  the 
plot  revolves  around  a  Mormon,  or  some  vile  deed 
depicted  therein  is  laid  at  the  door  of  the  Church. 

"Mormon"  was  a  nickname  applied  to  them  by 
non-believers.  This  name,  in  turn,  was  taken 
from  the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  a  translation  from 
plates  said  to  have  been  found  in  the  earth  by 
the  founder  of  the  Church,  Joseph  Smith.  The 
plates  were  supposed  to  be  engraved  with  hiero- 
glyphic characters,  and  were  thought  to  have 
been  buried  in  the  state  of  New  York  four  hun- 
dred years  after  Christ.  The  Mormons  believe 
the  Book  of  Mormon  to  be  the  history  of  a  peo- 


10  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

pie,  originally  Jewish,  who  crossed  the  sea  to 
America,  bringing  with  them  the  old  Biblical  be- 
lief. 

This  book  is  not  the  Mormon  Bible,  as  many 
suppose.  However,  the  Mormons  do  believe  that 
the  Book  of  Mormon  was  to  the  ancient  inhab- 
itants of  the  American  continent  what  the  books 
of  the  Bible  were  to  the  people  of  the  old  world. 
It  is  publicly  published,  and  any  reader  can  as- 
certain that  it  does  not  add  to  nor  contradict  the 
Bible.  It  does  not  teach  polygamy,  and  it  fore- 
tells, as  does  the  Bible,  the  coming  of  the  "King 
of  the  Jews,"  and  his  subsequent  crucifixion. 

Mormon  was  the  prophet  or  leader  of  this  peo- 
ple, and  the  ancient  Aztecs,  also  the  Mound  Build- 
ers, are  believed  to  represent  them.  The  mod- 
ern American  Indian  is  believed  to  be  the  dying 
remnant  of  the  race. 

The  Mormons  believe  in  the  same  organization 
that  existed  in  the  primitive  church,  also  that  the 
power  of  conferring  the  priesthood  was  lost  to 
the  Christian  world  because  of  unbelief,  and  was 
again  restored  through  Joseph  Smith.  Their  or- 
ganization consists  of  a  President,  who  governs 
the  entire  organization.  He  is  elected  by  the  vote 
of  the  people,  and  is  assisted  by  two  counselors  or 
advisers.  Then  come  the  twelve  apostles  and 
seventies,  bishops,  elders,  teachers  and  deacons. 
The  twelve  apostles  and  seventies  assist  in  the 
management  of  Church  affairs,  and  hold  positions 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  11 

relative  to  the  Senators  and  Rerpesentatives  at 
Congress. 

A  Bishop  presides  over  a  portion  of  the  com- 
munity and  is  in  turn  assisted  by  his  two  counsel- 
ors— also  teachers  and  deacons.  A  Bishop  re- 
ports at  quarterly  Conference  to  the  President, 
the  affairs  of  his  special  community.  These  meet- 
ings are  open  to  the  public  and  are  held  four 
times  a  year.  There  are  in  Salt  Lake  City  alone, 
thirty-five  Bishops. 

An  Elder  is  a  member  of  the  Church  in  full 
standing,  who  serves,  without  recompense,  for 
two  or  three  years  as  a  missionary.  Any  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  is  liable  to  be  called  upon  to 
serve  in  this  capacity. 

TRUTH  AND  JUSTICE 

What  but  a  strong  conviction  of  right,  a  pro- 
found belief  in  divine  aid  could  have  induced  this 
handful  of  people  to  face  the  horrors  of  an  un- 
peopled wilderness? 

This  inspiring  belief,  this  oneness  of  thought 
and  tenacity  of  purpose  enabled  the  Mormons  to 
open  up  the  great  West,  to  place  a  Mecca  in  the 
wilderness,  where  upwards  of  a  half  million  stur- 
dy, honest  citizens  live  and  sing  their  songs  of 
gladness  'mid  flowering  vines,  waving  grasses, 
bending  trees,  singing  birds,  babling  brooks  and 
majestic  rivers. 

In  presenting  to  you  through  the  pages  of  this 


12  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

book  the  subject  "Utah  and  the  Mormons,"  a 
brief  outline  of  their  doctrine  has  been  given  for 
the  purpose  of  bringing  to  your  minds  the  found- 
ation upon  which  this  structure  is  builded,  prov- 
ing that  it  is  not  a  murderous  mob  nor  a  licen- 
tious institution. 

Utah  was  settled  by  the  Mormons  about  sixty 
years  ago,  and  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  argue  or 
to  say  whether  the  "Mormons,"  correctly  speak- 
ing, the  "Latter-day  Saints,"  be  right  or  wrong 
in  their  religion,  because  the  right  or  wrong  con- 
ception of  religion  is  a  matter  of  individual  ideas ; 
but  it  is  my  purpose  to  deal  with  them  in  justice 
and  fairness,  as  I  would  with  any  other  body  or 
sect  of  people,  and  to  give  those  desirous  of  know- 
ing the  facts  concerning  conditions  in  Utah  a  dis- 
passionate statement  of  the  history  of  this  unique 
and  interesting  people.  I  will  endeavor  to  state 
the  facts  as  I  understand  them,  after  a  residence 
in  Utah  for  forty  years. 

The  Mormon  question  seems  to  arouse  every- 
where a  bitterness  and  wrath  of  feeling,  so  I  do 
not  expect  other  than  censure  from  those  who 
may  have  written  and  read  literature  disgustingly 
full  of  vile  and  licentious  abuse  and  from  those 
who  follow  a  Brutus  or  an  Antony  without  giv- 
ing any  reasoning  thought  or  investigation  on  the 
subject  for  themselves ;  but  I  know  that  thinking 
people  will  give  me  credit  for  being  unprejudiced. 

While  I  often  respectfully  repeat  the  stories  as 
believed  by  the  Mormons,  it  is  not  meet  or  rele- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  13 

vant  for  me  to  stop  and  question  whether  or  no 
Joseph  Smith  had  visions  or  that  his  dreams  were 
vagaries.  I  know,  however,  that  his  teachings, 
his  religion  and  thoughts  concerning  the  same, 
have  builded  up  an  organization  and  a  following 
that  has  withstood  unheard  of  abuse,  and  still 
exists  in  powerful  numbers;  and  this  I  do  know, 
that  they  are  an  industrious,  honest,  virtuous, 
chaste  and  sober  people.  I  leave  it  to  the  theo- 
logians to  figure  out  the  cause.  I  am  here  to  im- 
part information  and  not  to  solve  problems. 

A  true  man  gives  to  the  other  man  the  same 
rights  and  privileges  he  claims  for  himself,  and 
then  protects  both. 

One  should  never  imagine  himself  capable  of 
a  judgeship  as  to  other  people's  hearts  and  minds, 
and  do  not  think  for  a  moment  you  are  the  only 
pebble  on  the  beach  of  life's  great  ocean. 

THE  JUDGE  AND  THE  IRISHMAN 

Remember  the  story  of  the  old  judge  who  was 
compelled  by  circumstances  to  share  his  bed  with 
an  Irishman.  As  Paddy  climbed  over  the  rotund 
form  of  the  wise  man  to  occupy  the  inner  side  of 
the  bed,  in  dignified  tones  the  judge  said :  "Irish ! 
you  would  be  a  long  time  in  Ireland  before  you 
would  be  permitted  to  sleep  with  a  judge."  Pat 
replied :  "  Yis,  yer  Honor,  but  it  would  be  a  long 
toime  in  Ireland  before  you'd  git  to  be  a  judge." 


14  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Nothing  was  ever  achieved  by  abuse  and  un- 
kindness. 

"Freedom  and  reason  make  us  men — 
Take  these  away,  what  are  we  then?" 

Take  freedom  away  and  we  are  slaves.  Take 
reason  away  and  we  are  animals.  Fight  for  prin- 
ciple and  not  with  man. 

I  am  not  a  member  of  the  Mormon  Church.  I 
do  not  say  this  to  court  favor  from  the  crowd — 
I  tell  it  simply  as  a  fact.  I  am  a  fraternalist, 
which  includes  all  that  the  word  implies.  I  have 
adopted  for  my  guide  Lincoln's  motto,  "Good  will 
toward  all,  and  malice  toward  none."  I  am  a 
friend  of  all  and  love  all  who  follow  the  Master 
in  His  steps  of  love  and  kindness.  I  am  not 
friendly  to  bigoted  churchianity.  I  do  not  follow 
the  mob  nor  shout  with  a  Brutus,  although  he  be 
a  senator. 

"The  world  with  calumny  abounds; 
The  whitest  virtue  slander  wounds. 
There  are  those  whose  joy  is  night  and  day 
To  talk  a  character  away." 

"Eager  from  place  to  place  they  haste 
To  blast  the  generous  and  the  chaste 
And  hunting  reputation  down 
Proclaim  their  triumph  through  the  town." 

Give  a  listening  ear  to  the  stories  continually 
told  on  Utah  and  one  would  soon  be  imbued  with 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  15 

the  idea  that  the  Mormon  people  are  not  fit  to 
live;  that  they  are  ignorant  and  vile;  that  they 
dwell  in  dugouts  and  caves  and  beat  tom-toms  for 
their  music ;  that  Utah  is  only  on  a  par  with  the 
jungles  of  Africa.  The  listening  ear  is  ever  ready 
for  sensation;  and  without  stopping  to  think,  to 
question,  or  to  reason,  people  have  accepted  any 
vile  story  or  works  of  fiction  against  the  Mor- 
mons as  facts. 

The    following    beautiful    poem    by    Thomas 
Bracken  is  very  applicable : 

NOT  UNDERSTOOD 

Not  understood.    We  move  along  asunder, 
Our  paths  grow  wider  as  the  seasons  creep 
Along  the  years ;  we  marvel  and  we  wonder 
Why  life  is  life,  and  then  we  fall  asleep 
Not  understood. 

Not  understood.    We  gather  false  impressions 
And  hug  them  closer  as  the  years  go  by, 
Till  virtues  often  seem  to  us  transgressions ; 
And  thus  men  rise  and  fall  and  live  and  die, 
Not  understood. 

Not  understood.    Poor  souls  with  stunted  vision 
Oft  measure  giants  by  their  narrow  gauge ; 
The  poisoned  shafts  of  falsehood  and  derision 
Are  oft  impelled  'gainst  those  who  mould  the  age ; 
Not  understood. 


16  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Not  understood.    The  secret  springs  of  action 
Which  lie  beneath  the  surface  and  the  snow 
Are  disregarded ;  with  self  satisfaction 
We  judge  our  neighbors,  as  they  often  go; 
Not  understood. 

Not  understood.    How  trifles  often  change  us. 
The  thoughtless  sentence  or  the  fancied  slight 
Destroy  long  years  of  friendship  and  estrange  us, 
And  on  our  souls  there  falls  a  freezing  blight ; 
Not  understood. 

Not  understood.    How  many  breasts  are  aching 
For  lack  of  sympathy  ?    Ah,  day  by  day 
How  many  cheerless,  lonely  hearts  are  breaking, 
How  many  noble  spirits  pass  away : 
Not  understood. 

O,  God,  that  men  would  see  a  little  clearer 
Or  judge  less  harshly  where  they  cannot  see. 
O,  God,  that  men  would  draw  a  little  nearer 
To  one  another,  they'd  be  nearer  Thee. 
And  understood. 


THE  PRESIDENTS 

First— Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet— 

Born  December  23,  1805,  in  Sharon,  Wind- 
sor County,  Vermont.  Became  President  April 
6.  1830.  Died  June  27,  1844,  at  Carthage,  111. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  17 

Second — Brigham  Young — 

Born  June  1,  1801,  in  Whitingham,  Wind- 
ham  County,  Vermont.  Became  President  De- 
cember 27,  1847.  Died  August  29,  1877,  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Third— John  Taylor- 
Born   in   Milnthorpe,   Westmoreland,    Eng- 
land, November  1,  1808.      Became    President 
October  10,  1880.    Died  July  25,  1887  in  Kays- 
ville,  Davis  County,  Utah. 

Fourth — Wilford  Woodruff— 

Born  March  1,  1807,  in  Farmington,  Hart- 
ford County,  Conn.  Became  President  April 
7,  1889.  Died  September  2,  1898,  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, California. 

Fifth — Lorenzo  Snow — 

Born  April  3,  1814,  in  Mantua,  Portage 
County,  Ohio.  Became  President  September 
13,  1898.  Died  October  10,  1901,  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah. 

Sixth — Joseph  Fielding  "Smith — 

Born  in  Far  West,  Caldwell  County,  Mis- 
souri, November  13,  1838.  Became  President 
October  17,  1901. 


Polygamy. 

One  of  the  strongest  factors  in  any  religious 
sect,  is  its  belief  regarding  the  life  of  the  soul — 
past,  present  and  to  come. 

The  Mormon  view  of  immortality  is  very  com- 
prehensive and  liberal,  no  matter  what  we  may 
personally  believe. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  have  taken  it 
for  granted  that  polygamy  is  the  sum  total  of  the 
religion  called  "Mormonism." 

It  is  only  fair  to  the  Mormon  people,  and  my 
aim  is  to  be  true  to  the  truth,  to  state  that  poly- 
gamy is  not  the  basis  of  the  Mormon  religion.  It 
is  but  a  small  part  or  an  incident  to  their  mar- 
riage system. 

Their  actual  belief  is  in  the  resurrection  and 
the  life.  They  believe  in  immortality  of  soul  and 
body,  therefore  they  believe  that  all  of  God's 
children  will  sooner  or  later  receive  the  message 
of  Christ  through  Joseph  Smith  and  attain  exal- 
tation in  the  "House  of  many  mansions ;"  accord- 
ing to  the  life  lived  here  on  earth  and  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body.  Christ  said,  "I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you."  The  Mormons  believe  in  Christ, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  19 

but,  say  they,  each  individual  must  prepare  him- 
self for  the  place. 

In  Utah  there  are  four  Temples  dedicated  to 
this  work  of  preparation,  so  that  all  may  fit  them- 
selves for  the  various  glories  that  are  to  come. 
Each  one  of  these  temples  is  so  situated  that  a  cer- 
tain number  of  people  comprising  a  district,  or 
stake,  come  under  its  direct  jurisdiction. 

One  of  the  fundamental  ideas  of  the  "Mor- 
mons" is  that  they  should  emigrate  to  one  place 
and  make  that  their  permanent  home.  When  a 
Mormon  community  grows  to  sufficient  propor- 
tions, they  immediately  proceed  to  erect  a  temple. 
A  temple  is  not  a  house  of  public  worship,  but  a 
building  set  apart  for  the  performance  of  church 
ordinances  only,  such  as  baptisms,  confirmations, 
marriages,  sealings,  and  anointings. 

These  buildings  are  supposed  to  be  copied  from 
"Solomon's  Temple,"  and  are  models  of  architec- 
tural beauty. 

To  show  the  reverence  inspired  in  these  peo- 
ple's hearts  for  their  temples,  I  quote  from  one 
of  their  own  writers : 

"The  completion  of  a  temple  means  more  to 
our  minds  than  the  mere  finishing  of  a  costly  pile 
of  masonry.  It  means  that  an  enduring  bond  of 
unity  between  time  and  eternity  has  been  welded. 
It  means  that  a  faith  which  enables  a  people  to 
honor  God  in  keeping  his  commandments,  will 
enable  them  also  to  prevail  mightily  with  him  in 


20  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

securing  their  own  salvation  and  the  redemption 
of  mankind." 

In  these  beautiful  temples  are  performed  all 
ceremonies  pertaining  to  their  marriage  system. 

The  living  are  married  to  the  living  and  the 
living  may  be  sealed  to  the  dead,  and  baptized 
for  the  dead. 

Scripture  teaches :  "Then  why  are  we  baptized 
for  the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all." 

To  non-Mormon  minds  this  appears  a  queer 
custom,  but  it  is  a  part  of  their  faith  and  they  are 
entitled  to  it,  and  before  we  criticize  and  ridicule 
their  queer  customs  let  us  turn  our  attention  to 
our  own  religious  idiosyncracies. 

The  marriage  system  of  the  Mormon  Church 
differs  in  many  particulars  from  the  prevailing 
ideas  of  the  vaious  Christian  churches,  whose 
marriage  contracts  are  made  for  this  world  only, 
or,  in  their  own  words,  "until  death  doth  part 
them."  The  new  idea  with  the  Mormons  is  that 
they  marry  for  time  and  all  eternity.  Their  belief 
is  that  the  family  relations  and  associations  which 
contribute  so  much  to  man's  refinement,  spiritu- 
ality and  intellectual  happiness  here  in  this  world 
will  continue  on  through  every  cycle  of  life  that 
is  to  be.  The  poet,  Robert  Burns,  breathed  this 
same  beautiful  idea  in  his  "Cotter's  Saturday 
Night."  The  reader  will  remember  the  story.  At 
night  when  the  family  circle  was  all  complete,  the 
songs  of  love  had  been  sung,  and  the  good  nights 
had  been  said ; 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  21 

"Then,  kneeling  down,  to  Heaven'  eternal  King, 
The  Saint,  the  father,  and  the  husband  prays. 
Hope  'springs  exultant  on  triumphant  wing.' 
That  thus  they  all  shall  meet  in  future  days — 
There  ever  bask  in  uncreated  rays, 
No  more  to  sigh  or  shed  the  bitter  tear. 

"Together  hymning  their  Creator's  praise 
In  such  society,  yet  still  more  dear, 
While  circling  time  moves  round  in  an  eternal 
sphere." 

When  Utah  and  the  Mormon  religion  is  spok- 
en of  the  world  never  associates  with  it  such  sen- 
timents as  these.  The  Mormon  idea  of  home  life 
and  marriage  is  not  understood.  It  is  poly- 
gamy— vulgarity — polygamy,  that  is  uppermost  in 
the  minds  of  the  people.  It  has  been  said  that 
"to  the  pure  all  things  are  pure."  In  my  estima- 
tion Mormon  polygamy  was  not  as  bad  as  it  was 
represented  to  be.  The  world  always  looks  up- 
side down  to  the  man  who  is  himself  upside  down. 
People  seldom  look  for  the  better  side  of  things 
nor  question  the  whys  and  wherefores  of  any  im- 
portant question  which  may  affect  the  lives  of 
their  fellow  beings. 

The  Mormon  church  existed  ten  years  before 
the  question  of  polygamy  was  ever  promulgated 
to  the  people,  and  polygamy  was  never  held  to 
be  a  commandment  to  all  their  people,  but  rather 
a  permission  granted  to  men  and  women  of  good 
character,  and  then  under  special  rules  and  condi- 
tions. 


22  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

The  age,  time,  conditions  and  environment  were 
vastly  different  sixty  years  ago  than  now,  and 
with  all  these  things  and  although  it  was  a  vital 
principle  of  the  Church,  polygamy  did  not  make 
much  headway  with  the  Mormon  people.  Really, 
the  talk  about  it  was  greater  than  the  thing  itself. 
The  continued  noise  reminds  me  of  a  campaign 
story: 

"THE  FARMER  AND  THE  FROGS." 

A  farmer  approached  a  hotel  man  and  pro- 
posed to  sell  him  a  carload  of  frog  legs.  The  ho- 
tel man  smiled,  chuckled,  and  derided  the  old  fel- 
low, but  the  farmer  stuck  to  it  and  persisted  in 
his  claim  that  he  could  procure  and  have  on  hand 
after  the  3rd  of  November  a  carload  of  frog  legs. 
The  hotel  man,  not  to  be  bluffed,  agreed  to  take 
all  the  old  man  could  bring  of  legs  at  20c  a  dozen. 

The  date  set  rolled  around,  as  all  dates  do,  and 
the  next  day,  after  the  frogs  had  been  caught  and 
counted,  the  farmer  approached  his  prospective 
customer  writh  a  sheepish  look  and  with  his  head 
bowed  in  disgust,  carrying  in  his  hand  a  small  tin 
pail,  its  contents  being  about  a  couple  of  dozen 
frog  legs.  The  hotel  man  smiled  and  asked  for 
the  carload.  The  farmer  meekly  replied,  "It  was 
the  croaks  that  fooled  me.  Say,  'Don/  if  there 
had  been  as  many  frogs  as  croaks  I  could  have 
easily  had  two  carloads,  but  alas,  noise  is  not  al- 
ways indicative  of  truth. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  23 

When  polygamy  was  most  urged  upon  the 
membership  of  the  church  and  reached  its  highest 
point  in  practice  there  were  never  more  than  three 
per  cent  of  the  population  who  entered  into  poly- 
gamy. 

Mormon  polygamy  did  not  mean  licentiousness, 
but  it  meant  an  additional  home ;  it  m'eant  toil  for 
the  husbandman;  it  meant  food,  raiment  and 
education  for  the  children  born  of  the  union.  It 
meant  wifehood  and  protection.  It  meant  joy 
and  responsibility  of  motherhood ;  in  other  words, 
it  meant  all  the  responsibilities  that  go  with  mon- 
ogamous marriages.  Surely  a  bestial  man  would 
not  assume  such  obligations.  If  so,  he  surely  was 
a  beast  and  a  fool  combined. 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  polygam'ous  marriages 
ceased  in  Utah  eighteen  years  ago.  The  senti- 
ment of  the  people  of  the  United  States  was 
against  it.  When  Utah  knocked  at  the  portals  of 
the  government  for  permission  to  enter  as  a 
State  into  the  sisterhood  of  States  one  of  the 
binding  declarations  demanded  was  voiced 
through  the  national  congress,  that  before  admis- 
sion could  be  allowed,  polygamous  or  plural  mar- 
riages must  be  forever  prohibited.  The  people  of 
Utah  accepted  this  condition  and  obligated  them- 
selves to  it  by  incorporating  the  very  language 
of  the  enabling  act  into  their  constitution,  at  their 
State  Constitutional  convention,  and  further,  they 
took  the  definition  of  the  national  congressional 
enactment  of  polygamous  or  plural  marriages  and 


24  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

adopted  its  punishment  for  the  offense,  and  the 
amount  of  fine  and  imprisonment  that  should  be 
imposed  for  the  crime.  This  was  the  agreement 
entered  into,  and  I  am  sure  the  Mormon  people 
have  kept  it.  If  individuals  have  broken  the  law, 
the  individual  is  responsible,  and  is  punished  ac- 
cording to  the  law  when  arraigned  before  the 
court,  as  any  other  criminal  who  violates  the 
statutes  of  this  or  any  other  State.  There  are 
many  men  who  commit  errors  that  are  mem- 
bers of  churches  and  societies,  but  this  should  be 
no  reflection  on  the  church  itself.  The  church 
does  not  teach  it  nor  tolerate  it.  Nearly  every 
murderer  who  was  ever  hanged  belonged  to  a 
church,  but  it  was  no  reflection  on  the  church. 
There  are  many  criminals,  but  it  is  not  all  crim- 
inals who  are  sinners.  Christ  was  a  criminal  in 
the  eyes  and  mind  of  the  mob,  but  he  was  not  a 
sinner ;  and  so  it  is  with  some  of  the  Utah  people 
today. 

Justice  and  law  are  in  many  cases  two  different 
things.  We  shout  justice  and  practice  law. 

The  people  involved  in  this  plural  marriage  re- 
lationship belong  not  to  the  criminal  class  and 
they  are  not  sinners  but  splendid  men  and  women. 
The  men  are  counted  among  the  most  honorable 
in  the  State.  The  women  who  accepted  this  order 
of  marriage,  both  first  wives  and  plural  wives,  are 
as  refined  and  pure,  both  in  body  and  in  mind,  as 
can  be  found  anywhere  in  the  world.  The  men 
and  women  of  Utah  are  earnest,  honest,  sincere 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  25 

and  as  pure  as  any,  and  I  will  defend  them  while 
I  have  mind  and  strength  to  do  so.  Among  the 
Mormon  people  exist  the  dearest  family  ties, 
that  of  husband  and  wife,  children  and  grand- 
children,with  all  the  collateral  relationships  grow- 
ing out  of  the  family.  I  ask  you  to  remember 
the  purity  of  motive  with  which  those  marriage 
relations  were  formed,  Think  of  the  religious 
honesty  of  the  people!  and  while  it  may  seem 
strange  to  you,  they  believed  they  were  doing 
God's  service  when  accepting  that  order  of  mar- 
riage. 

In  my  estimation  an  attempt  to  obliterate  the 
polygamous  relationship  at  one  stroke  would  be 
unreasonable,  unmerciful  and  un-American.  A 
good  man  will  never  desert  a  good  wife  and 
their  children,  if  the  bony  finger  of  all  the  world's 
hate  and  malice  were  pointed  at  him. 

There  is  a  higher  and  deeper  law  than  those 
made  by  ordinary  men  and  framed  in  statutes 
and  constitutional  law  books,  and  that  is  the 
law  of  the  soul  of  things,  honor,  love,  affection, 
between  father,  mother,  child  and  friend;  call  it 
if  you  will  the  moral  law.  This  law  is  sustained 
by  a  refined  monitor  called  by  us,  conscience, 
which  was  born  in  man  and  is  a  part  of  that 
mysterious  something — Divinity.  This  law  of 
truth  and  justice  has  been  struggling  toward  the 
light  in  and  through  man  since  he  first  turned  his 
eyes  from  the  sod  to  the  stars. 

All  that  concerns  us  nationally  is  the  moral  sta- 


26  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tus,  present  and  future,  of  any  State  in  this  our 
Union. 

It  ought  to  be  in  America  that  any  man  who 
has  a  just  cause  and  is  honest  need  not  fear  to 
appeal  to  the  American  people.  This  country  is 
made  up,  or  should  be,  of  individuals  and  not  of 
tribes. 

My  Friends:  After  all  the  fuss  that  has  been 
made  about  this  dreadful  poylgamy  of  Utah  do 
you  not  honestly  think,  from  a  biblical  standpoint, 
which  every  Church  in  Christendom  insists  that 
we  must  believe,  that  there  is  some  little  excuse 
for  the  Mormons  introducing  polygamy?  Let  us 
be  square,  honest,  and  just  a  shade  reasonable. 

The  doctrine  of  polygamy  is  as  much  a  part  of 
the  old  Bible  as  the  doctrine  of  the  trinity  is  a 
part  of  the  New  Testament. 

Abraham,  David,  Jacob,  and  Solomon  are  held 
up  to  the  whole  civilized  world  by  orthodox  min- 
isters as  examples  of  all  that  is  good  and  holy,  and 
yet  these  men  were  polygamists  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced type.  Solomon  had  enough  wives  and 
children  to  start  a  good-sized  town  with.  The 
Bible  tells  us  he  had  three  hundred  wives  and 
seven  hundred  friends.  Solomon  was  certainly 
one  of  two  things,  a  very  clever  old  man  or  the 
biggest  fool  that  ever  lived.  These  men,  in  their 
day,  were  respected  and  loved  by  the  commu- 
nity in  which  they  lived,  and  their  names  are  per- 
petuated in  sacred  history  to  be  used  by  the  hu- 
man race  yesterday,  today  and  forever. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  27 

Life  is  a  funny  proposition,  after  all,  is  it  not? 

We  cannonade  while  living,  canonize  when 
dead. 

The  majority  of  people  believe  nowadays,  or 
pretend  to  believe,  in  the  monogamic  system  of 
marriage.  This  belief  is  mine.  However,  any 
m'an  or  woman  has  a  right  to  his  or  her  own 
belief  or  opinion,  even  if  it  is  not  in  keeping  with 
constitutional  law,  providing  he  does  not  practice 
it.  A  government  or  a  nation  has  no  right  to  take 
out  a  man's  brain  nor  kill  the  use  of  it.  They  did 
that  in  olden  times,  but  it  won't  do  now. 

"In  men  whom  men  condemn  as  ill 
I  find  so  much  of  goodness  still. 
In  men  whom  men  pronounce  divine 
I  find  so  much  of  sin  and  blot 
I  hesitate  to  draw  the  line 
Between  the  two  where  God  has  not." 

Do  not  worry  any  more  about  Utah  polygamy. 
It  has  been  dead  eighteen  years.  Turn  your  eyes 
from  mole  hills  of  imagined  wrongs  to  mountains 
of  real  sorrows  and  wickedness. 

It  is  said  there  are  eight  hundred  thousand 
fallen  women  in  the  United  States.  Statistics 
of  fallen  men  not  given. 

In  1900  there  were  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
thousand,  nine  hundred  and  fourteen  devorced 
persons  in  the  United  States.  There  were  about 
seventy  thousand  divorces  in  1903  and  eighty 
thousand  in  1907. 


28  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

A  bulletin  issued  by  the  census  bureau,  Novem- 
ber, 1908,  says : 

"A  higher  divorce  rate  in  the  United  States 
than  in  any  of  the  foreign  countries  where  sta- 
tistics are  available,  is  announced  by  the  census 
bureau,  which,  in  a  bulletin  just  issued,  says  that 
at  least  one  marriage  in  12  in  this  country  ulti- 
mately terminates  in  divorce.  The  report  covers 
the  twenty  years  from  1887  to  1906,  inclusive. 
In  that  time  there  were  12,832,044  marriages  and 
945,625  divorces,  against  328,716  divorces  for 
the  preceding  twenty  years.  Divorce  is  now  two 
and  a  half  times  as  common  compared  with  the 
married  population,  as  it  was  40  years  ago." 

These  are  our  real  troubles. 


Their  Places  of  Worship. 

The  Salt  Lake  Temple,  which  is  one  of  the 
four  in  the  State  of  Utah,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
from  three  to  four  million  dollars. 

Its  corner  stone  was  laid  April  6,  1853,  by  Pres- 
ident Brigham  Young,  assisted  by  his  counselors, 
Heber  C.  Kimball  and  Willard  Richards.  After 
forty  years  of  .constructing,  this  building  was  ded- 
icated April  6,  1893,  by  President  Wilford  Wood- 
ruff and  his  counselors. 

This  massive  structure  is  built  entirely  of  na- 
tive granite,  and  occupies  a  space  186J  feet  long 
and  90  feet  wide.  It  is  surmounted  by  six  towers, 
three  on  the  East  and  three  on  the  West. 

The  height  of  the  central  tower  to"  the  East  is 
22 1J  feet,  upon  which  stands  the  golden  figure  of 
the  Angel  Moroni,  blowing  a  trumpet.  This  fig- 
ure is  twelve  feet  five  and  a  half  inches  high,  and 
conveys  the  idea  of  a  messenger  and  represents 
the  fact  of  Moroni  bringing  the  gospel  to  the 
earth  in  this  latter  day  dispensation.  The  figure 
is  made  of  hammered  copper,  entirely  covered 
with  pure  gold  leaf.  A  100  candle  power  incan- 
descent light  crowns  and  illumines  this  marvelous 
piece  of  handwork  of  Dallin,  the  famous  Utah 
sculptor. 


30  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

This  Salt  Lake  Temple  is  built  upon  a  founda- 
tion wall,  which  is  16  feet  thick,  the  lower  walls 
of  the  building  are  nine  feet  thick  and  those  at 
the  top  six  feet.  The  height  of  the  West  towers  is 
219  feet,  the  east  side  towers  are  200  feet  and  the 
west  side  towers  194  feet. 

It  stands  a  silent  testimony  in  granite  of  a  peo- 
ple's industry  and  devotion. 

Incidentally,  let  me  remark,  upon  its  com- 
pletion it  was  entirely  free  from  any  sort  of  obli- 
gation. 

If  the  tax-payers  of  America  could  study  the 
methods  pursued  by  this  Church  and  apply  them 
to  the  erection  of  government  buildings,  many  of 
our  fair  cities  would  not  be  burdened  with  inter- 
est-bearing bonds. 

MEETING    HOUSES 

The  Mormons  have  no  pew-holders  or  collec- 
tion plates  in  their  houses  of  worship.  Saint  and 
sinner,  rich  and  poor,  stand  an  equal  chance  of 
obtaining  front  seats.  These  public  places  of  wor- 
ship are  called  "Meeting  Houses."  They  are  se- 
verely simple. 

In  Salt  Lake  City  and  vicinity  there  are  thirty- 
five  meeting  houses. 

In  these  are  held  Sabbath  Schools  each  Sunday 
morning,  and  six  o'clock  Sunday  evening  service. 
On  Tuesday  evenings  are  held  the  "Mutual  Im- 
provement" meetings;  also  a  monthly  fast  day 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  31 

meeting  is  held  here.  Sunday  afternoon  service 
is  held  in  a  common  meeting  place  for  all  these 
various  branches  or  districts,  at  a  church  known 
as  the  Tabernacle,  and  is  presided  over  by  the 
President,  assisted  by  the  twelve  apostles. 

TABERNACLE 

This  great  tabernacle  is  250  feet  long,  150  feet 
wide,  and  100  feet  high  in  the  center  of  the  roof, 
which  is  a  single  arch,  unsupported  by  pillar  or 
post.  The  walls  are  twelve  feet  thick,  and  there 
are  twenty  huge  double  doors  for  entry  and  exit. 
This  Tabernacle  resembles  in  appearance,  the 
back  of  a  vast  turtle.  The  building  seats  8,000 
people.  Its  acoustics  are  so  wonderful  that  the 
slightest  noise  can  be  heard.  An  interesting  fea- 
ture is  that  the  dropping  of  a  pin  can  be  heard 
distinctly  throughout  the  building. 

Within  this  building  stands  the  famous  pipe 
organ,  which  ranks  among  the  largest  organs  in 
the  world.  Added  to  the  music  of  this  organ  are 
the  voices  of  500  men  and  women,  the  largest  or- 
ganized church  choir  in  the  world. 


Philosophy  of  Mormonism. 

What  may  be  called  the  "Philosophy  of  Mor- 
monism" embraces  not  only  the  doctrines  and  dog- 
mas, the  precepts  and  practices  of  this  life,  but 
reaches  back  to  the  eternities  that  have  passed 
and  forward  to  the  eternities  that  are  to  come. 
The  mortal  probation  which  we  call  "life"  is  re- 
garded by  the  "Latter-day  Saints"  as  one  stage — 
significant  and  of  transcending  importance,  it  is 
true — nevertheless  a  stage  only  in  the  course  of 
that  eternal  progression  which  is  the  heritage  of 
the  children  of  Deity.  And  under  this  title  are 
included  all  members  of  this  great  family  of  ours 
— the  human  family.  The  Latter-day  Saints 
boldly  affirm  their  belief  in  a  pre-existent  state; 
they  combat  the  thought  that  the  beginning  of 
individual  existence  dates  from  birth,  or  even 
from  the  conception  of  the  mortal  body,  which 
body,  indeed,  they  regard  as  the  earthly  garb  of 
an  immortal  spirit.  This  spirit  had  an  existence 
as  an  intelligent  and  self-acting  entity  before  its 
body  of  flesh  took  shape  and  shall  continue  to 
exist  even  after  the  tabernacle  of  earth  earthy  has 
gone  to  decay. 

These  adherents  of  the  new  theology  contend 
that  the  evidence  of  a  hereafter — in  which  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  33 

immortal  man  shall  rise  above  the  seeming  vic- 
tory of  the  grave — is  not  less  strong  than  is  that 
pointing  to  a  conscious  and  progressive  existence 
in  the  "herebefore." 

From  this  it  follows  as  a  matter  of  course  that 
they  affirm  an  intimate  relationship  between  the 
past  or  primeval  existence  and  the  present,  as  also 
between  the  present  existence  and  the  future 
state.  They  say  that  the  Eternal  One,  who  is 
both  merciful  and  just,  and  who  is  literally  the 
Father  of  our  spirits,  is  not  limited  by  the  mortal 
span  of  His  children's  lives  in  bestowing  upon 
them  His  good  gifts;  that  even  in  the  great  be- 
yond— far  on  the  other  side  of  the  grave — it  may 
be  possible  for  the  children  of  God  to  repent,  to 
separate  themselves  from  their  sins,  and  to  set 
out  on  the  upward  road  of  progression. 

Let  it  be  remembered,  however,  that  in  this  be- 
lief of  theirs  there  is  no  mawkish  sentimentality, 
no  comfortable  carelessness  as  to  present  respon- 
sibilities, no  flattering  "unction"  to  ease  the  soul 
of  regrets  for  opportunities  missed,  and  for  re- 
pentance procrastinated. 

Repentance,  say  they,  is  not  to  be  had  for  the 
whimsical  asking,  or  on  the  prompting  of  a  fleet- 
ing fancy.  The  man  who  through  his  acts  be- 
comes hardened  in  sin  loses  not  alone  the  ability 
to  repent,  but  the  capability  of  exercising  even  a 
forceful  will  toward  repentance.  Not  a  sin  com- 
mitted in  life  shall  fail  to  leave  its  wound  or  scar ; 
no  opportunity  can  be  wilfully  spurned  or  care- 
4 


34  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

lessly  cast  aside  and  then  be  made  good.  What- 
ever the  later  victories  in  the  great  struggle  in 
life,  the  fact  of  ignominious  defeat  is  a  fact  of 
history  and  of  record — to  be  overshadowed,  per- 
haps by  subsequent  triumphs,  to  be  forgotten, 
perchance,  in  the  joy  of  better  accomplishments, 
but  never  to  be  obliterated  from  the  page  of  what 
has  been.  The  "Mormons"  believe  in  no  exclusive 
heaven  nor  hell.  In  the  future  state  of  the  soul 
there  will  be  formed  infinite  gradations  of  intelli- 
gence and  capacity.  They  often  quote  the  words 
of  the  "Man  of  Nazareth,  "In  my  Father's  house 
there  are  many  mansions,"  and  every  soul,  say 
they,  shall  find  there  as  he  finds  or  makes  for 
himself  here,  a  home  of  beauty  and  refinement, 
or  a  hovel.  But  as  children  of  the  eternal  God 
we  are  capable  of  endless  advancement,  however 
slow  one's  progress,  if  indeed  we  do  advance; 
however  small  our  capacity  if  we  do  but  utilize 
what  we  have;  however  great  the  mistakes  we 
make  if  we  do  not  persistently  make  the  same 
blunders  over  and  over  again;  no  matter  how 
clumsily  we  stumble  or  how  sore  may  be  the 
bruises  from  our  fall,  do  we  but  stumble  less  and 
blunder  less  as  the  years  roll  by  we  shall  rise  and 
grow,  we  shall  develop  and  advance,  for  have 
we  not  eternity  before  us  ? 

This  theology  tells  of  varied  grades  of  glory, 
many  mansions  of  the  blest,  but  the  splendor  of 
the  heavenly  abode,  the  glory  of  the  righteous,  is 
no  state  of  idle  ease  and  irresponsible  rest.  Sal- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  35 

vation,  exaltation  to  them  is  but  an  increase  of 
facilities  for  advancement  under  better  conditions 
for  the  work  essential  to  progression.  Heaven  is 
a  state  of  advanced  work,  of  increased  power 
for  good,  of  glory  that  consists  of  intelligence 
and  wisdom  to  use  it. 

This  feature  of  their  philosophy  necessarily  en- 
tails a  liberal  regard  for  and  willing  recognition 
of  the  good  in  all  men.  Every  man,  "be  he  Mor- 
mon, Jew  or  Gentile,  Catholic,  Protestant  or 
Unitarian,  Presbyterian  Congregationalist  or 
what-not  shall  find  his  place  in  the  Father's  man- 
sion, according  to  his  fidelity  to  the  truth  he  has 
learned — according  to  the  purity  and  capacity  of 
his  soul.  Their  commentaries  affirm  that  even 
the  heathen  who  has  lived  up  conscientiously  to 
the  highest  law  of  righteousness  he  has  learned, 
shall  advance  and  develop,  while  the  man  of  civ- 
ilization and  high  earthly  station  shall  serve  and 
not  rule,  follow  and  not  lead,  obey  and  not  com- 
mand, if  he  has  trampled  the  laws  of  righteous- 
ness under  his  feet,  and  wandered  from  the  path 
illuminated  by  the  light  of  truth  and  beauty. 

The  fate  of  the  "damned"  is  to  these  people 
the  loss  of  power  to  advance,  the  cessation  of  de- 
velopment. Hell  with  its  brimstone  and  fire  finds 
no  place  in  their  theology;  nor  does  heaven  as  a 
place  where  the  redeemed  sit  on  stools  of  flitting 
clouds  and  spend  eternity  in  twanging  harps 
and  singing  praises.  They  believe  in  a  God  who 
is  best  worshiped  by  service,  not  by  words  alone ; 


36  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

by  deeds,  not  by  dogmas;  by  effort,  and  not  by 
any  attainment  of  abstract  goodness. 

This  life  is  but  one  of  the  departments  in  the 
great  school  of  the  eternities.  Death  is  the  grad- 
uation to  a  higher  grade.  The  grade  does  not 
revolutionize  the  individual.  We  shall  carry  with 
us  ous  characters,  our  natures — whatever  our  rep- 
utation among  our  fellows  may  have  been;  but 
to  the  soul  that  loves  the  light,  there  is  offered  the 
opportunity  of  endless  progression,  and  this  is 
salvation,  according  to  Mormon  philosophy. 

(I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  J.  E.  Talmage  for  this 
article,  for  which  I  am  truly  grateful.) 


What  Mormons  are  Doing. 

The  "Mormons"  are  spreading  out,  clearing 
the  desert  of  sage  brush,  killing  reptiles,  digging 
canals  planting  trees,  building  homes  school 
houses  and  churches.  They  are  making  of  a 
wilderness  a  flower  garden. 

Mormon  leaders  seldom'  sit  by  the  fireside  of 
home  sweet  home;  they  are  journeying  and  toil- 
ing continually  for  the  welfare  of  their  people, 
bettering  their  conditions  physically  and  intellec- 
tually. While  the  croakers  sit  and  croak,  the 
"Mormons"  are  toiling  on  and  on. 

"Mormons"  have  learned  the  old,  old  story, 
that  every  advancement  is  at  the  cost  of  infinite 
struggle,  and  they  are  struggling. 

There  is  but  little  difference  in  the  plans  of  the 
various  churches  and  societies  and  while  I  have 
profound  respect  for  all,  I  have  the  right  to  ex- 
press my  appreciation  of  a  good  point  wherever 
I  find  it. 

The  principal  work  of  the  ordinary  church  is 
spiritual,  up  in  the  clouds,  with,  seemingly,  but 
little  thought  of  the  conditions  of  the  people  here 
on  earth.  It  is  one  continuous  donating  proposi- 


38  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tion,  freed,  of  course,  from  commercialism,  but 
the  rich  man,  a  commercialist  contributes  some  of 
his  wealth  irrespective  of  how  he  got  it  to  the 
building  of  a  church.  When  this  church  is  half 
finished  more  money  is  solicited  to  com'plete  it, 
and,  after  all,  isn't  this  commercialism?  I  am 
sorry  to  find,  too,  there  is  but  little  room  for  the 
rags  amongst  the  velvet  and  a  poor  wayfarer 
feels,  when  visiting,  about  as  much  out  of  place 
as  would  a  Mozart  in  a  chemical  laboratory. 

A  poor  fellow  waiting  at  the  door  of  one  of 
ihe  stylish  eastern  churches  asked,  whose  church 
is  this?  He  was  answered,  "Christ's  church." 
The  stranger  then  said :  "Is  He  in  ?"  Of  course 
he  was  then  shown  to  a  seat. 

The  various  churches  have  charitable  clubs, 
etc.,  attached  to  the  main  body.  The  Salvation 
Army  is  a  good  institution.  It  feeds  thousands 
of  indigents  over  and  over  again.  I  agree  with 
the  sentiment  that  "He  who  stoops  above  the  fal- 
len stands  erect,"  but  why  not  encourage  an  in- 
stitution that  keeps  a  man  from  falling? 

The  "Mormon"  church,  as  I  understand  it, 
stands  for  both  temporal  and  spiritual  affairs. 
The  Apostles  are  on  the  go  year  after  year,  col- 
onizing, blazing  the  forest  and  performing  the 
greatest  of  all  charities — helping  others  to  help 
themselves,  and  in  my  way  of  thinking,  the  best 
way  to  show  your  love  of  God  is  by  helping  your 
fellow  man.  The  "Mormon"  church  or  religion 
is  the  most  practical  of  any. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  39 

DOWN  HERE 

"The  parish  priest  of  Austerly, 

Climbed  up  in  a  high  church  steeple, 
To  be  near  God,  so  that  he  might  hand 

His  word  down  to  the  people, 
And  in  sermon  script  he  daily  wrote 

What  he  thought  was  sent  from  heaven, 
And  he  dropped  it  down  on  the  people's  heads 

Two  times  one  day  in  seven. 
In  his  age,  God  said,   'Come  down  and  die/ 

And  he  cried  from  out  the  steeple, 
'Where  art  thou,  Lord  ?"  and  the  Lord  replied, 

'Down  here  amongst  the  people.' " 


The  "Mormons"  have  been  called  a  menace. 
"Uncle  Sam"  need  have  no  fear  of  a  people  who 
are  brave  and  industrious,  who  cultivate  the  di- 
vine art  of  music,  who  sing  and  teach  their  chil- 
dren to  sing,  who  are  happy  and  contented  in 
their  mountain  homes.  Uncle  Sam  need  not  be 
afraid  of  a  church  that  has  the  best  kind  of  char- 
ity and  takes  care  of  its  poor.  A  state  is  not  a 
menace  that  has  sent  many  of  the  best  and  brain- 
iest men  and  women  in  the  Union  into  the  world 
— sculptors,  artists,  vocalists,  musicians,  preach- 
ers, soldiers  sailors  and  statesmen. 

It  is  an  absurd  idea  that  the  state  or  states 
can  be  a  menace  whose  people  are  chaste  and  vir- 


40  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tuous,  who  love  children  and  welcome  them  into 
the  world  with  songs  of  joy.  The  country  is  safe 
where  women  prefer  the  dashing  boy  and  the 
pretty  girl  for  their  pets  rather  than  a  bull  canine 
or  a  Maltese  feline. 

Uncle  Sam  need  have  no  fear  of  a  state  whose 
public  school  system  ranks  among  the  best  in  the 
United  States;  that  possesses  school  buildings 
which  for  general  excellence  are  not  outclassed 
in  the  whole  United  States;  where  there  stands 
an  investment  of  $100  for  every  child  of  school 
age.  The  people  of  Utah  have  their  eyes  on  the 
stars,  but  they  keep  pegging  away  on  earth. 

During  the  war  a  personal  friend  said  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  :  "Mr.  President,  do  you  really  expect  to 
end  this  war  during  your  administration  ?"  "Can't 
say,  sir ;  can't  say,  sir."  "But,  Mr.  Lincoln,  what 
do  you  really  mean  to  do  ?"  "Peg  away,  sir ;  peg 
away ;  keep  pegging  away." 

WILL  KEEP   PEGGING  AWAY 

The  "Mormons/'  it  strikes  me,  will  keep  peg- 
ging away.  Through  all  the  ages  in  the  realms 
of  art,  science,  inventions,  discoveries  and  pro- 
gress, there  have  always  been  the  knockers.  All 
good  springs  from  eternal  combat.  The  "Mor- 
mon" people  will  never  be  a  menace  to  good  gov- 
ernment under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  Old 
Glory. 

They  are  not  dumb  driven  cattle  and  the  men 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  41 

who  continually  insult  them  by  calling  them  such 
are  not  very  apt  to  get  their  votes.  When  you 
abuse  the  leaders  you  abuse  the  people. 

If  the  selection  of  a  president  of  these  United 
States  depended  upon  the  citizens  of  Utah,  their 
judgment  would  not  be  very  bad.  Of  course, 
they  wouldn't  vote  for  a  bigot  who  would  kill 
them.  They  would  select  men  with  similar  minds 
to  Theodore  Roosevelt,  who  believes  in  a  square 
deal  for  everybody. 

MY  DOCTRINE 

"My  doctrine  is  to  lay  aside 
Contention  and  be  satisfied ; 
Just  do  your  best  and  praise  or  blame 
That  follows,  that  counts  just  the  same." 

"I've  always  noticed  great  success, 
Is  mixed  with  trouble,  more  or  less, 
And  it's  the  man  who  does  his  best 
That  gets  more  kicks  than  all  the  rest." 


Be  Strong. 

Be  strong! 

We  are  not  here  to  play,  to  dream,  to  drift ; 
We  have  hard  work  to  do  and  loads  to  lift ; 
Shun  not  the  struggle ;  face  it ;  'tis  God's  gift. 

Be  strong ! 

Say  not  the  days  are  evil — who's  to  blame  ? — 
And  fold  the  hands  and  acquiesce — oh,  shame ! 
Stand  up ;  speak  out,  and  bravely,  in  God's  name. 

Be  strong ! 

It  matters  not  how  deep  intrenched  the  wrong, 
How  hard  the  battle  goes,  the  day  how  long. 
Faint  not ;  fight  on ;    Tomorrow  comes  the  song. 
— D.  Maltbie  Babcock. 


To  Live  and  Grow. 

It  is  better  a  man  be  half  wrong,  and  think  for 
himself  than  be  all  right  by  allowing  some  one  else 
to  think  for  him. 

Human  life  is  very  like  a  tree,  its  growth  is 
upward  toward  the  light.  A  man  who  has  more 
light,  more  talents,  it  is  his  duty,  and  should  be 
his  pleasure,  to  extend  a  strong  helping  hand  to 
his  less  favored  brother. 

Hold  aloft  the  torch  of  reason  and  in  manly 
confidence  and  kindness  lead  him  from  the  morass 
of  error  into  the  sunlit  fields  of  golden  truth. 

We  should  aim  to  be  men  in  the  true  sense  of 
the  term  and  attain  the  highest  perfection  in  hu- 
man life — a  man;  a  king  can  be  no  more.  The 
right  thinking  man  is  without  fear  of  any  sort 
or  shape.  He  is  not  an  asker  of  favors  and  is 
never  a  failure. 

The  mind  is  vaster  than  the  earth  and  he  is  al- 
ways true  to  his  higher  and  better  self. 

The  animal  man  who  dissipates,  who  does  not 
think  and  reason,  who  begs  and  bows  and  cringes 
to  his  fellows  exchanges  higher  values  for  lower 
values,  and  thus  surrenders  the  Divinity  within 
his  keeping,  leaving  ere  long  a  rotten  hulk, 


44  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

spoiled  and  ruined,  a  thing  to  be  despised — only 
to  be  inhabited  by  bats  and  bugs  on  the  filthy 
banks  of  stagnant  pools. 

Live  for  something;  have  a  purpose  and  that 
purpose  keep  in  view. 

TRUE  MANHOOD 

"Build  it  well  whate'er  ye  do; 
Build  it  straight  and  strong  and  true. 
Build  it  high  and  clean  and  broad; 
Build  it  for  the  eye  of  God." 

A  real  man,  in  word  and  deed,  is  an  honest 
one.  Death  to  him  is  preferable  to  dishonor. 
He  is  genial  and  ever  faithful  to  his  trusts ;  he 
is  as  true  as  the  compass  and  as  tender  as  the 
flowers.  His  influence  is  felt  for  good  at  home, 
on  the  street,  in  business  circles,  and  in  public 
places.  He  is  slow  to  condemn,  and  when  preju- 
dice controls  the  hearts  of  men,  clamor  and  scan- 
dal fill  the  air,  he  exercises  care  and  prudence  and 
does  not  run  with,  nor  echo  the  ravings  of  un- 
thinking minds. 

He  cultivates  the  higher  faculties  and  sensibil- 
ities. He  looks  with  pity  rather  than  with  blame 
at  the  mistakes,  faults  and  frailties  of  his  fellows. 
He  is  honest,  prompt,  kind  and  true.  He  stands 
erect  and  craves  more  than  bread  and  sleep.  He 
loves  his  God  and  works  and  hopes  for  every  man, 
himself  included.  He  knows  the  poet  spoke  the 
truth  when  he  said: 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  45 

"Tis  not  so  much  what  now  we  are 

As  what  we  may  become. 
God  reckons  on  the  growth  of  man; 
Eternity  gives  room." 

We  shall  never  have  a  decent  civilization  until 
a  noble,  intellectual  manhood  is  builded.  Then 
every  human  being  will  walk  under  the  torchlight 
of  reason  and  will  think  and  act  according  to  the 
dictates  of  his  conscience — God's  monitor. 


SUGGESTIONS 

If  a  tale-bearer  pours  poisonous  stories  into 
your  ear  about  a  friend,  play  fair,  give  your  friend 
—the  slandered  one — an  equal  chance  with  the 
slanderer.  Never  judge  harshly  nor  slight  a  man 
through  the  tongue  of  a  chatterer ;  if  you  do,  you 
are  on  the  same  plain  as  the  chatterer.  Men  talk 
—monkeys  chatter ;  be  men ! 

An  honest  man  is  never  insulted  nor  slighted, 
an  inferior  man  can't  insult  him  and  a  superior 
won't. 

Never  worry  as  to  people  liking  you,  live  your 
own  life,  be  worthy  of  self-esteem,  honor-bright. 
This  is  enough ! 

In  every  man  there  is  the  power  of  greatness — 
needs  development,  that's  all. 


46  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Be  honest,  energetic ;  it's  the  only  way. 

Mind  and  heart  make  the  man. 

The  business  man  who  claims  for  himself  "no 
sentiment  in  business"  and  means  it — is  an  ani- 
mal. 

The  world  needs  individual  strength  for  a 
higher  and  more  extended  form  of  unity.  It  needs 
groups  of  thinkers  harmonizing  their  best  thought 
into  universal  fellowship. 

The  tribal  age  is  past. 

You  are  what  some  one  else  tells  you  to  be, 
unless  you  think  it  over  yourself. 

The  most  valuable  asset  is  honesty.  A  mar. 
may  be  a  fool,  but  if  he  is  honest,  no  honors  are 
too  great,  and  he  has  them. 

It's  mighty  good  to  come  across  a  man  who  is 
sincere. 

Boys,  be  somebody,  and  get  experience — 
knowledge. 

There  is  something  wrong  with  a  man  who  is 
afraid  to  live  or  afraid  to  die. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  47 

Thousands  of  people  are  in  the  business  of  sav- 
ing souls,  but  few  are  trying  to  make  them  worth 
saving. 

Reason  separates  men  from  animals. 

To  be  a  success  stop  singing  so  much  about  the 
"Sweet  By  and  By,"  but  sing  sweet  songs  of  the 
eternal  now. 

Think  of  it — change  your  opinions,  you  are 
compelled  to  change  your  friends — it  is  laughable, 
but  it's  the  truth. 

Many  people  will  fight  for  their  religion,  but 
seldom  have  a  thought  of  living  it. 

The  world  boasts  of  civilization,  but  it's  ever 
so  far  away. 

Reason  is  the  lamp  of  the  mind  and  the  source 
of  justice. 

Many  people  call  themselves  liberals,  but  they 
insist  on  mental  slavery  for  the  other  fellow. 

Remember  always  that  religion  is  personal  an<jl 
private.  Be  honest,  let  your  neighbor's  alone. 

A  man  who  is  envious  is  not  good,  hence  he 
cannot  do  good. 


48  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

A  broken  promise  is  the  meanest  and  most  ag- 
gravating of  lies. 

Only  fools  are  dishonest,  foolish  to  themselves. 

The  honest  man  may  have  to  walk  alone,  but 
he  always  has  the  pleasure  of  good  company. 

WHAT    MAKES   A    MAX. 

"Not  numerous  years  nor  lengthened  life 
Xor  pretty  children  nor  a  wife ; 
Xor  pins  and  chains  and  fancy  rings, 
Xor  any  such  like  trumpery  things, 
Nor  pipes,  cigars  nor  bottled  wine; 
Xor  liberty  with  kings  to  dine ; 
^Nor  coat  nor  boot,  nor  yet  a  hat, 
A  dandy  vest  or  trim  cravat ; 
Xor  master,  reverend  sir,  nor  squire, 
With  titles  that  the  memory  tire ; 
Nor  ancestry  tracked  back  to  Will 
Who  went  from  Normandy  to  kill ; 
Nor  judge's  robe  nor  mayor's  mace. 
Nor  crown  that  decks  the  royal  race ; 
These,  all  united,  never  can 
Enlarge  the  soul  to  make  the  man. 

A  truthful  soul,  a  loving  mind, 
Full  of  affection  for  its  kind ; 
A  helper  of  the  human  race, 
A  soul  of  beauty  and  of  grace ; 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  49 

A  spirit  firm,  erect  and  free, 
That  never  basely  bends  the  knee; 
That  will  not  bear  a  feather's  weight 
Of  slavery's  chain  for  small  or  great ; 
That  firmly  speaks  of  God  within, 
And  never  makes  a  league  with  sin; 
That  snaps  the  fetters  despots  make 
That  loves  the  truth  for  its  own  sake; 
That  worships  God  and  only  God, 
That  trembles  at  no  tyrant's  nod — 
And  thus  can  smile  in  curse  and  ban — 
That  is  the  soul  that  m'akes  the  man." 

— Author  Unknown. 


The    Mind    of   the    Mob, 

Or  the  Evils  of  Public  Clamor. 

'If  all  the  troubles  in  the  world 

Were  traced  back  to  their  start, 
We'd  find  not  one  in  ten  began 

From  want  of  willing  heart. 
But  there's  a  sly  woe-working  elf 

Who  lurks  about  youth's  brink, 
And  sure  dismay  he  brings  away, 

The  elf— 'I  didn't  think.'  " 

From  the  earliest  dawn  of  civilization  to  the 
present  time  a  struggle  has  been  going  on,  in  de- 
veloping the  intellectual  or  spiritual  man  out  of 
the  animal  or  unthinking  man. 

It  has  been  a  continuous  battle  between  thought 
built  sentiment  and  mobocracy.  Since  two  thou- 
sand years  before  Christ,  law-givers  and  philos- 
ophers have  labored  to  teach  men  to  keep  in  sub- 
jection their  speech  and  their  appetites. 

The  few  thinkers,  the  intellectual  lights  who 
have  illumined  the  pathway  of  the  ages,  stand 
out  conspicuously  because  their  numbers  have 
been  few,  but  their  influence  has  blessed  human- 
ity and  we  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labors. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  51 

There  are  now  a  few  churches  and  a  few  soci- 
eties, and  only  a  few,  with  the  purpose  in  view  of 
developing  the  higher  faculties  and  sensibilities; 
that  is,  to  develop  the  man — strangle  the  brute, 
in  other  words,  to  make  men. 

"You  mourn,  you  sigh,  because  men  hate  each  other ; 
It  makes  you  grieve  that  men  shall  kill  each  other; 
Alas,  that  man  should  fill  the  world  with  sorrow ! 
And  yet  he  may  do  better  things  tomorrow." 

We  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  workers  of 
the  past.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  life's  devotion 
of  the  few  who  worked  unceasingly  and  alone, 
without  a  word  of  cheer,  without  recompense, 
either  of  food  or  raiment,  and  then  died  upon  the 
cross,  the  rack,  and  the.  scaffold,  that  each  suc- 
ceeding generation  might  reap  a  golden  harvest  of 
intellectual  liberty  from  their  sowing  the  seeds  of 
sacrifice,  we  today  would  be  subject,  entirely,  to 
the  whims  and  fancies  of  the  mob. 

Lowell  expressed  a  truth  when  he  said : 

"Truth  forever  on  the  scaffold, 
Wrong  forever  on  the  throne, 

Yet  that  scaffold  sways  the  future 
And  behind  the  dim  unknown 

Standeth  God  within  the  shadow, 
Keeping  watch  above  his  own." 

The  mob  cannot  think,  and  some  individuals 
who  might  think,  won't!  Hence  humanity  must 
still  travel  on  through  the  swamps  and  foul 


52  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

morass  of  bigotry  and  ignorance.  The  ship  of 
progress  must  flounder  about  in  stagnant  pools, 
chained  to  posts  of  envy  and  hate,  by  public 
clamor. 

The  pilgrim  fathers  who  sacrificed  all  to  at- 
tain their  liberty  of  conscience,  no  sooner  had  they 
attained  it,  than  they  commenced  to  enslave  oth- 
ers. This  condition  of  the  human  mind  seems  to 
perpetuate  itself.  Nineteen  hundred  years  of 
Christian  teachings  seem  to  have  eradicated  but 
little  of  the  devilish  sin  of  public  clamor.  Today 
we  see  brother  against  brother,  church  against 
church,  society  against  society,  and  each  claiming 
to  be  a  follower  of  the  gentle  Nazarene  who  said, 
"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself."  Christ  walked 
from  town  to  town,  crying  to  the  people,  "Do  ye 
unto  others  as  ye  would  have  others  do  unto  you," 
and  they  crucified  him. 

He  died  with  a  smile  on  his  face  and  a  loving 
word  upon  his  lips,  while  the  mob  clamored  and 
finished  its  devilish  work. 

The  same  old  spirit  and  the  same  old  mob  are 
still  at  it,  killing  their  victims  on  the  cross  of  slan- 
der and  burning  them  at  the  fagots  of  prejudice 
and  hate. 

Abraham  Lincoln  said,  "Our  reliance  is  in  the 
love  of  liberty  which  God  has  planted  in  us.  Our 
defense  is  in  the  spirit  which  prizes  liberty  as  the 
heritage  of  all  men.  Those  who  deny  freedom 
to  others  deserve  it  not  for  themselves,  and  under 
a  just  God  can  not  long  retain  it."  Lincoln  meant 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  53 

this  not  only  for  governments  but  for  individuals, 
churches,  and  societies.  A  true  man  will  never 
ask  for  a  right  that  he  will  not  accord  to  his  fel- 
lowman. 

If  a  poor  barbarian  was  kneeling  to  a  stuffed 
snake  praying  for  his  wife  and  babe,  you  have  no 
right  to  laugh  and  scoff  at  him.  You  would  do 
better  by  kneeling  down  and  praying  with  him. 

"Hush  up  that  spiteful  tongue  of  yours, 

Give  him  a  chance  to  grow, 
Before  you  hang  him,  tell  me  this : 
Why  differs  he  from  you? 

"You  never  made  yourself,  my  friend  ; 

Then  why  should  you  be  proud? 

And  if  you've  only  what's  been  given, 

What  right  have  you  to  crowd  ?" 

The  road  has  been  long  and  dreary,  from  Pyth- 
agoras, the  sage  of  Samos,  to  Lincoln,  the  sage  of 
America,  but  all  across  the  ages  the  mob  has  kept 
a  going  clamoring  for  the  destruction  of  every 
man  who  was  ahead  of  his  time,  every  advanced 
thought,  every  invention,  and  every  discovery. 
The  best  have  always  been  abused  the  most.  In 
our  tim'e  questions  that  affect  the  welfare  of  the 
state  or  nation  are  not  taken  up  and  considered 
under  the  torch  of  reason,  but  to  the  contrary, 
under  the  red  flag  and  the  skull  and  cross  bones 
of  hate  and  egotism.  The  warring  factions  work 
for  supremacy,  not  for  principle,  by  arousing 
public  clamor. 


54  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

We  may  well  cry,  where  is  the  Christ?  and 
what  of  his  teachings  ?  We  surely  need  "the  sec- 
ond coming"  or  a  revival  of  the  works  and  of 
his  life's  teachings. 

"Why  call  ye  me  Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the 
things  which  I  say?" 

The  mob  and  public  clamor  have  pursued  the 
"Mormon"  people  for  75  years,  which  is  evidence 
in  itself  of  their  strength  and  fortitude. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen  are  traveling  to  and  fro, 
proving  their  goodness  (?)  by  telling  old-time 
tales  and  bugaboo  stories  about  Utah  and  "the 
horrid"  "Mormons." 

The  buzzard  of  public  clamor  has  vomited  its 
nastiness  to  such  an  extent  that  when  a  resident 
journeys  from  home  and  names  his  state,  hands 
go  up,  eyes  bulge  and  exclamation  bursts  into  the 
air,  "Oh,  my!  I  wouldn't  live  in  such  a  horrid 
place  as  Salt  Lake  or  Utah." 

The  whole  miserable  defamation  is  a  base  false- 
hood from  beginning  to  end. 

The  "Mormon"  people  are  just  as  pure,  just  as 
thoughtful,  just  as  intelligent,  just  as  honest  and 
just  as  virtuous,  as  any  people  in  the  world.  I 
know  them  and  I  like  them.  They  are  plain, 
kindly  and  hospitable  amongst  themselves,  and  to 
the  stranger,  and  the  word  stranger  is  not  under- 
scored in  Utah.  I  have  found  the  leaders  of  the 
"Mormon"  church,  during  my  residence  here  since 
1869,  possessing  the  same  fraternal  spirit,  extend- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  55 

ing  the  same  kindly  handclasp,  as  I  found 
amongst  the  people  at  large. 

"By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  These 
leaders  have  guided  the  ship  in  safety  through  all 
the  storms  of  prejudice  into  the  vales  of  peace 
and  plenty,  where  80  per  cent  of  the  people  own 
their  own  homes,  and  the  intelligence  and  status 
of  education  is  only  two  rounds  from  the  top  of 
the  ladder ;  and  they  keep  "pegging"  away. 

Their  religion  is  a  practical  one,  and  has  been  a 
blessing  to  many  thousands  of  God's  children, 
materially  and  spiritually.  Forests  have  been 
subdued ;  homes,  schoolhouses  and  churches  have 
been  built,  and  the  people  educated. 

The  fight  on  the  "Mormons"  should  be  stop- 
ped. Many  men  have  grown  gray  in  slashing 
them,  and  it  is  now  a  part  of  their  existence. 

"The  world  is  full  o*  ruts,  my  boy — 

Some  shaller  and  some  deep. 
An'  ev'ry  rut  is  full  o'  folks 
As  high  as  they  can  heap." 

As  men  and  lovers  of  justice  we  must  appeal  to 
the  young  for  liberality  and  a  square  deal  or 
America  will  not  be  entitled  to  the  name,  "the 
land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 


SIMILAR    PICTURES 

There  are  similar  pictures  in  the  life  and  death 
of  Christ  and  of  Joseph  Smith.    Christ  no  sooner 


56  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

commenced  his  mission  than  the  mob  got  after 
him.  His  was  a  brief  life  of  turmoil  and  suffer- 
ing. He  wandered  about,  and  what  a  task  for 
him  to  get  a  hearing.  I  love  to  read  the  story  of 
his  loving  deeds,  of  his  defense  of  the  unfortunate 
victims  of  public  clamor.  One  can  easily  imagine 
that  divine,  manly  face  and  strong  arm  going 
amongst  the  poor  and  wretched  outcasts  in  the 
slums  of  the  city.  He  sees  the  mob,  with  its 
bloodshot  eyes  and  sputtering  mouths,  chasing  a 
poor  "fallen"  girl,  each  fellow  picking  up  stones 
as  they  rushed  on.  Christ,  the  only  friend,  ran  to 
the  rescue;  with  flashing  eye  and  upraised  arm 
he  held  the  mob  at  bay. 

Can  you  not  hear  him  say :  "Stand  back,  every 
one  of  you !"  and  after  a  pause,  said :  "He  that 
is  without  sin  among  you,  let  him  cast  the  first 
stone." 

Can  you  not  see  the  howlers,  the  mob  slink 
away,  out  of  sight,  awed  by  his  presence?  Can 
you  not  hear  him  say :  "Don't  be  afraid,  little 
girl,  they  shall  not  harm  you."  In  tender  tones 
and  with  a  friendly  hand  upon  her  shoulder,  he 
said,  "Go  thou  and  sin  no  more."  The  world  has 
had  one  Christian  and  he  was  out  of  Nazareth. 
See  him,  at  the  supper  table  with  his  twelve 
friends,  one  spotter  in  the  twelve.  See  Judas  be- 
tray him'.  Can  you  not  see  and  hear  his  best 
friend,  Peter,  deny  him?  Can  you  not  hear  him 
say  during  that  awful  hour  in  Gethsemane :  "Rest, 
brothers,  rest,  thou  art  tired,  I  would  be  alone." 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  57 

Can  you  not  see  and  hear  him  say  when  the  mob 
came  to  take  him,  led  by  Judas,  "Are  ye  come 
out  as  against  a  thief  to  take  me  ?"  Can  you  not 
hear  him  speak  and  see  him  push  back  the  mob, 
and  tell  the  crowd  he  had  lived  with  them  in  the 
city  many  years,  "and  ye  took  me  not."  Can  you 
not  hear  the  shouts  and  see  the  mob  push  and 
abuse  Jesus  and  stand  him  before  the  priests, 
alone,  deserted  by  everybody;  not  one  of  the 
preachers  of  the  time  had  pluck  enough  to  speak 
a  word  for  the  outcast  from  Nazareth.  Oh,  pub- 
lic clamor,  thou  art  a  devilish  thing! 

SAME  PREJUDICE  IN    MODERN   TIMES 

Any  one  who  attended  the  "Mormon"  Church 
investigation  in  modern  times  can  realize  the  po- 
sition of  Jesus  when  before  Pilate.  How  the 
crowd  winked  and  blinked  and  wagged  their 
heads  and  poked  each  other  with  glee  when  a 
point  was  made  as  to  garments  worn  and  the 
ceremonies  of  the  Church. 

Can  yon  not  see  Christ  stand  before  Pilate,  and 
with  folded  arms  complacently  answer  questions 
about  endowments  and  "Art  thou  the  king  of  the 
Jews,"  etc.,  with  the  brief  reply,  "Thou  sayest  it?" 
Contempt  of  court,  eh  ? 

Can  you  not  realize  the  fool  power  of  public 
clamor?  "Pilate  marveled"  because  Jesus  would 
not  answer  some  fool  question. 

Think,  when  at  the  feast  a  prisoner  was  to  be 


58  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

released  in  honor  of  the  occasion ;  which  shall  it 
be?  Jesus  the  pure  and  good,  or  Barabbas  the 
thief  and  murderer?  The  mob  shouted  give  us 
Barabbas  and  crucify  Jesus.  The  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Home  Protective  association  passed 
burning  resolutions  to  crucify,  crucify  him.  His 
last  prayer  was:  "Father,  forgive  them,  they 
know  not  what  they  do." 

For  particulars  see  chapter  15  of  St.  Mark,  the 
Bible.  Read  it  now. 

Note  the  wagging  heads  when  the  mob  had 
done  its  worst  and  Jesus  of  Nazareth  cried :  "Eloi, 
Eloi,  lama  sabachthani,"  meaning  "My  God!  my 
God !  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?" 

In  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar  the  mob!  the 
mob !  could  not,  would  not  think,  and  Caesar,  the 
people's  best  friend,  was  sacrificed,  and  the  "un- 
kindest  cut"  was  given  him  by  one  who  knew 
better,  but  being  weak  in  manhood,  he  allowed 
himself  to  be  hoodwinked  and  urged  on  by  a  dis- 
gruntled politician.  The  soul  of  Brutus  was  dark- 
ened by  sin,  and  note  how  he  struggled  with  tink- 
ling words  to  make  his  murderous  wrong  appear 
a  mighty  right.  Over  the  bleeding  body  of  good 
Caesar  did  he  stir  the  mob  to  frenzy  until  even 
the  mortal  casket  was  in  danger  of  being  torn 
asunder,  limb  from  limb,  and  Brutus  said  'twas 
right  because  "Caesar  was  ambitious." 

What  a  diplomatic  struggle  it  was  for  Mark 
Antony,  the  one,  lone  friend  of  dead  Caesar,  to 
get  a  hearing,  but  in  an  hour,  when  the  mob  once 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  59 

learned  of  the  goodness  of  Caesar  then  Brutus,  in 
turn,  was  in  danger  of  being  pulled  to  pieces. 

Vice  of  every  kind  is  ignorance,  and  clamor  is 
its  vile  weapon. 

Public  clamor  kept  up  its  devilish  work  until 
the  mob  assassinated  Joseph  Smith,  the  "Mor- 
mon" Prophet,  and  he  died  crying,  "O  Lord,  my 
God!" 

Public  clamor  burned  Bruno  at  the  stake,  and 
he  said,  "I  die  willingly"  for  the  truth. 

Bigotry  gave  the  hemlock  to  Socrates,  one  of 
the  bravest,  truest,  simplest  and  wisest  of  man- 
kind. 

Public  clamor  painted  Abraham  Lincoln  as  an 
ape  picking  nuts  from  a  tree.  He  was  assassin- 
ated. He  is  now  our  gentlest  memory. 

Public  clamor  pictured  William  McKinley  as 
a  Napoleon  minus  the  brains.  He  was  shot  to 
death.  We  all  love  him'  now. 

Public  clamor  painted  Mark  Hanna  as  a  mon- 
strosity, but  when  he  died,  with  bowed  heads 
people  whispered  in  sorrow,  "Hanna  is  dead." 

I  have  no  use  for  public  clamor.  I  ask  neither 
for  its  smiles  nor  do  I  notice  its  frowns.  It  is  un- 
safe, unreliable.  It  kills,  then  weeps.  In  life  it 
strews  poisonous  weeds,  after  death  roses. 

I  am  not  particular  about  flowers  on  the  cas- 
ket. If  you  have  any  to  give,  give  them  now  in 
kindly  words  and  loving  deeds ;  if  not,  keep  still 
after  I  am  gone. 

If  public  clamor  attacks  a  friend,  don't  stam- 


60  -       LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

pede  and  shout  with  the  crowd,  Crucify,  crucify. 
Just  stop,  think,  investigate ! 

We  need  more  practical  churches,  more  practi- 
cal home  builders,  helpers  of  men  to  help  them- 
selves. Seven  day  churches.  Don't  turn  your 
eyes  so  skyward  as  to  miss  your  neighbor's  needs. 

A   WORD  TO   MINISTERS 

Dear  ministers,  you  have  been  ordained  by  some 
bishop  or  church.  I  haven't ;  my  m'other  ordained 
me.  I  set  myself  apart.  I  am  responsible  only  to 
my  own  conscience — God's  monitor.  I  have  a 
message  of  love,  hope  and  encouragement  to  de- 
liver to  as  many  as  I  can  reach  with  humble  voice 
and  feeble  pen. 

In  all  kindness  let  me  ask,  do  you  not  see,  dear 
friends,  that  you  are  being  crowded  out  of  every- 
day life? 

Don't  you  realize  that  you  are  treated  as  some- 
thing to  be  looked  at,  an  ornament  rather  than  an 
active  factor  in  life's  work  in  the  community? 

Don't  you  realize  the  wicked  conditions  in  pol- 
itics, the  bribery  and  corruptions  throughout  the 
land,  yet  you  dare  not  get  into  a  primary  or  a 
convention,  because  public  clamor  would  howl  at 
you,  hence  your  influence  is  set  aside  and  the 
country  is  turned  over  to  scheming  politicians  ? 

Don't  you  think  if  you  were  to  put  a  little  bit 
of  commercialism  into  your  work  and  do  some- 
thing for  the  people  on  earth  as  well  as  up  in  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  61 

clouds,  you  would  be  doing  more  good  for  God 
and  his  children  than  you  are  doing  now? 

There  is  one  thing  you  ought  to  do.  Stop 
your  abuse  of  the  "Mormons."  It's  wrong  of 
you.  If  you  don't  want  to  help  the  "Mormons" 
to  colonize  and  build  homes,  join  General  Booth 
of  the  Salvation  Army;  for  heaven's  sake  do 
something  for  the  people  here  on  earth. 

While  you  are  worrying  about  mole  hills  of 
wickedness,  mountains  are  growing  about  you. 

Do  your  best  to  stop  public  clamor  and  to  make 
the  people  think. 

In  the  words  of  an  immortal — Solon  of  Ath- 
ens: 

"In  all  things  let  reason  be  your  guide.  In 
everything  you  do  consider  the  end." 

PASSIONS 

"Put  down  the  passions  that  make  earth  hell! 
Down  with  ambition,  avarice,  pride ; 
Jealousy,  down !  cut  off  from  the  mind 
The  bitter  springs  of  anger  and  fear ; 
Down  too,  down  at    your  own  fireside, 
With  the  evil  tongue  and  the  evil  ear, 
For  each  is  at  war  with  mankind."  — Tennyson. 

QUIT  YOUR   KNOCKING 

"Put  your  hammer  in  the  locker, 

Hide  your  sounding  board  likewise ; 
Anyone  can  be  a  "knocker;" 
Anyone  can  critizise. 


62  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Cultivate  a  manner  winning, 
Though  it  hurts  your  face  to  smile 

And  seems  awkward  in  beginning ; 
Be  a  booster  for  a  while. 

"Let  the  blacksmith  do  the  pounding, 

That's  the  way  he  draws  his  pay, 
You  don't  get  a  cent  for  hounding 

Saint  and  sinner  night  and  day. 
Just  for  solid  satisfaction 

Drop  a  kind  word  in  the  slot, 
And  I'll  warrant  you'll  get  action 

For  your  effort,  on  the  spot. 

"Kindness  every  time  beats  kicking; 

Mirth  is  better  than  a  frown ; 
Do  not  waste  your  time  in  picking 

Flaws  with  brothers  who  ^re  down. 
And  if  it  isn't  too  distressing, 

You  just  give  a  little  boost 
To  the  man  the  fates  are  pressing, 

When  the  chicks  come  home  to  roost. 

"Yes,  this  old  world  would  be  brighter, 

If  you'd  kindle  friendship's  flame, 
And  thus  make  the  trouble  lighter 

For  the  man  against  the  game. 
Send  your  grouch  on  a  vacation 

Give  your  grumbling  tones  the  shake, 
And  with  grim  determination, 

Throw  your  hammer  in  the  lake." 


Columbus   and    Brigham   Young. 

I  have  illustrated  to  you  the  value  of 
small  influences.  Each  one  of  us  casts  an 
influence  in  this  world  for  good  or  for  evil.  Our 
lives  may  be  simple,  and  our  doings  may  make 
but  a  small  ripple  on  the  ocean  of  life,  yet,  like 
the  pebble  cast  upon  the  smooth  surface  of  the 
water,  circles  may  commence  to  form  and  grow 
until  they  reach  from  shore  to  shore.  Think  now 
of  the  force  of  greater  ones,  but  still  the  greater 
ones  were  but  small  ones  wfcen  first  set  in  motion. 

I  believe  in  ideals.  I  think,  sometimes,  ideals 
are  better  than  ideas. 

Brave  men  are  few  and  far  between,  and  as 
they  pass  away  new  ideals  shine  forth,  slowly, 
as  the  years  roll  by.  Prejudice  all  across  the 
ages  has  retarded  the  world's  appreciation  of  its 
toilers. 

I  often  quote  beautiful  sentiments  from  great 
minds,  but  it  would  weaken  the  influence,  at  the 
time,  to  speak  their  names.  Bigotry  and  preju- 
dice have  always  played  their  villainous  part  in 
the  drama  of  life. 

If  the  words  are  quoted : 

"The  world  is  my  country,  to  do  good  my  re- 
ligion ;" 


64  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

or  this  beautiful  thought : 

'The  glory  of  God  is  intelligence." 
And  this : 

"The  place  to  be  happy  is  here, 
The  time  to  be  happy  is  now. 
The  way  to  be  happy 
Is  to  make  others  so." 


"We  rise  by  raising  others." 

And  this : 

In  the  year  1846,  in  camp  at  Winter  Quarters, 
Brigham  Young  said :  "If  any  are  sick  let  those 
who  are  healthy  help  them.  If  any  are  poor  let 
those  who  have  means  divide  of  their  substance 
unto  the  poor.  If  there  are  those  who  are  not  of 
our  faith  who  desire  to  accompany  us  into  the  wil- 
derness, in  search  of  homes,  let  them  come  on  and 
give  them  a  hearty  welcome.  I  look  upon  every 
American  citizen  as  a  friend  and  a  brother." 

It  is  safest  to  let  the  author's  names  be  untold. 
The  mind  of  the  world  has  to  unfold  into  higher 
realms  of  thought,  or  the  sages  have  not  been 
dead  long  enough  yet.  The  mists  of  prejudice 
must  be  rolled  away  by  intellectual  development, 
and  then  humanity  builds  monuments  to  their 
memories. 

The  history  of  Utah  cannot  be  written  without 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  6§ 

the  name  of  Brigham  Young,  the  pioneer  and 
fearless  leader  of  the  early  "Mormons." 

These  pioneers  started  from  Winter  Quarters, 
now  Florence,  Nebraska,  on  April  18,  1847.  The 
main  body  of  people  were  left  upon  the  Missouri, 
they  following  later. 

I  can  best  give  you  an  idea  of  the  indomitable 
pluck  and  energy  of  Brigham  Young  by  making 
a  comparison  between  him  and  Christopher  Co- 
lumbus. Both  were  pioneers,  both  dauntless  in 
their  courage;  both  were  successful.  Brigham 
Young  was  abused  and  villified,  not  understood. 

Brigham  Young  tracked  the  barren  desert 
knowing  very  little  about  the  uncivilized  West. 
Behind  him  was  his  old  home  and  a  few  loved 
ones.  Behind  him  were  the  sneers  and  curses 
of  his  fellow  men,  but  withal,  he  pushed  on  into 
the  desert  and  the  wilderness.  In  his  devotion 
to  his  people  he  was  as  gentle  as  the  flowers.  In 
his  defense  of  them  he  was  as  bold  and  fearless 
as  the  lion.  That  little  band  of  exiled  outcasts 
looked  to  him  as  their  Moses.  And  he  was. 

When  in  deepest  sorrow  and  tribulation,  when 
hope  had  almost  fled,  when  skies  were  dark,  and 
the  only  music  to  their  ears  was  the  war-whoop 
of  the  painted  savage,  and  the  dismal  howl  of 
the  wolf,  when  thunders  rolled  and  lightnings 
flashed;  'mid  all  this  despair,  Brigham  Young 
would  sing  and  shout  to  his  people : 

"Come,  come,  ye  Saints,  no  toil  nor  labor  fear, 
But  with  joy  wend  your  way. 
6 


66  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Though  hard  to  you  this  journey  may  appear; 

Grace  shall  be  as  your  day. 
"Gird  up  your  loins,  fresh  courage  take, 

Our  God  will  never  us  forsake; 
And  soon  we'll  have  this  tale  to  tell, 
All  is  well,  all  is  well." 

Brigham  Young  was  a  great  and  gifted  man,  a 
big-hearted  man,  broad-minded  and  philanthropic. 
I  knew  him  personally  and  I  liked  him. 

He  and  his  people  penetrated  the  very  heart  of 
the  desert  and  the  mountains,  where  they  founded 
Salt  Lake  City,  the  home  we  love  so  well — the 
parent  of  hundreds  of  cities,  towns  and  villages 
that  have  sprung  into  existence  as  the  gift  of 
Brigham  Young  and  his  band  of  pioneers. 

Note  my  comparison  of  the  two  men,  Brigham 
Young  and  Christopher  Columbus. 

Think  of  the  life  of  Columbus,  how  he  suf- 
fered, how  he  was  reviled ;  yet  he  gave  to  the 
generations  of  today  and  those  to  follow,  life's 
grandest  lesson,  "Sail  on,  sail  on."  No  man  suf- 
fered more  indignities,  nor  surmounted  more  gi- 
gantic obstacles  than  did  Christopher  Columbus. 
He  accomplished  as  much,  if  not  more,  for  the 
physical  and  mental  development  of  the  world 
than  any  other  man.  He  illumined  for  the  whole 
world  the  Atlantic  ocean  and  discovered  a  land  of 
majestic  wonders. 

We  today  are  reaping  the  harvest  of  his  sow- 
ing. Though  he  was  ignored,  neglected  and  left 
to  die  alone  in  poverty  and  distress,  his  lessons 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  6X 

to  the  world  will  permeate  all  the  coming  ages. 
It  is  the  way  of  the  world : 

"Cannonade  while  living, 
Canonize  after  death." 

The  character  of  this  man,  this  splendid  ideal,  is 
beautifully  portrayed  in  the  grand  poem  by  Joa- 
quin  Miller,  the  sturdy  California  poet.  The 
poem  illustrates  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes, 
the  trials  and  tribulations  during  the  voyage  of 
Columbus  and  his  men  to  America,  just  pre- 
vious to  the  discovery  of  this  continent. 

One  of  these  two  pioneers  was  a  "Mormon,'' 
the  other  a  "Catholic."  One  was  on  the  land,  the 
other  on  the  sea.  Brigham  Young  said:  "Come 
on,  come  on/'  and  over  five  hundred  miles  of 
country  was  redeemed  from'  a  Mexican  desert  to 
an  American  garden. 

Columbus  said :  "Sail  on,  sail  on."  He  gained 
a  world;  he  gave  that  world  its  grandest  lesson, 
"On  and  on." 

COLUMBUS 

Behind  him  lay  the  gray  Azores, 

Behind  the  Gates  of  Hercules; 
Before  him  not  the  ghost  of  shores, 

Before  him'  only  shoreless  seas. 
The  good  mate  said :   "Now  must  we  pray, 

For  lo!  the  very  stars  are  gone. 
Speak,  Admiral,  what  shall  I  say?" 

"Why  say,  'Sail  on !  sail  on !  and  on !' '; 


68  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

"My  men  grow  mutinous  day  by  day; 

My  men  grow  ghastly  wan  and  weak." 
The  stout  mate  thought  of  home ;  a  spray 

Of  salt  wave  washed  his  swarthy  cheek. 
"What  shall  I  say,  brave  Admiral,  say, 

If  we  sight  naught  but  seas  at  dawn  ?" 
"Why,  you  shall  say  at  break  of  day, 

'Sail  on !  sail  on !  sail  on !  and  on !'  " 

They  sailed  and  sailed,  as  winds  might  blow, 

Until  at  last  the  blanched  mate  said : 
"Why,  now  not  even  God  would  know 

Should  I  and  all  my  men  fall  dead. 
These  very  winds  forget  their  way, 

For  God  from  these  dread  seas  is  gone. 
Now  speak,  brave  Admiral,  speak  and  say — " 

He  said :  "Sail  on !  sail  on !  and  on !" 

They  sailed.    They  sailed.    Then  spoke  the  mate  : 

"This  mad  sea  shows  its  teeth  tonight. 
He  curls  his  lip,  he  lies  in  wait, 

With  lifted  teeth,  as  if  to  bite ! 
Brave  Admiral,  say  but  one  good  word : 

What  shall  we  do  when  hope  is  gone?" 
The  words  leapt  as  a  leaping  sword : 

"Sail  on !  sail  on !  sail  on !  and  on !" 

Then,  pale  and  worn,  he  kept  his  deck, 

And  peered  through  darkness.    Ah,  that  night 
Of  all  dark  nights !    And  then  a  speck — 

A  light!    A  light!    A  light!    A  light! 
It  grew,  a  starlit  flag  unfurled ! 

It  grew  to  be  Time's  burst  of  dawn. 
He  gained  a  world ;  he  gc.ve  that  world 

Its  grandest  lesson  :  "On  and  on !" 

—    Joaquin  Miller. 


Joseph  Fielding  Smith. 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  always  of  Utah,  a  pioneer,  a 
lover  of  its  people — the  present  president  of  the 
church,  has  been  brutally  assailed  and  not  one 
word  from  any  minister  or  barely  from  any  one, 
outside  of  his  own  people,  has  been  spoken  in  his 
defense.  Men  who  should  be  friends,  not  con- 
tent with  the  prejudices  and  clamor  now  going  on 
against  the  "Mormon"  church,  must  attack  indi- 
vidual members  of  that  church.  Joseph  F.  Smith 
has  been  heralded  throughout  the  land  as  the 
personification  of  all  that  is  selfish  and  mean. 
People,  of  course,  will  "gulp  it  down"  and  chatter 
it  to  others  whom  they  meet  on  life's  highway. 

Public  clamor  has  been  and  is  now  painting 
this  man  as  an  autocrat,  a  selfish  thing  in  human 
shape ;  wagging  tongues,  pens  dipped  in  gall  and 
vinegar  and  the  deft  pencil  of  the  artist,  all  are 
employed  in  hurling  vile  epithets  at  this  leader 
of  a  despised  and  misunderstood  people. 

Joseph  F.  Smith  is  a  plain  man,  unostentatious 
to  a  fault. 

The  student  in  the  world's  great  schools  of 
thought,  if  graduated  from  out  of  the  mists  and 
fogs  of  envy  and  jealousy  will  see  in  the  life  of 


70  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Joseph  F.  Smith  a  lesson  worthy  of  emulation. 
He  or  she  will  learn  the  lesson  of  toil,  of  cease- 
less energy,  of  faithfulness  to  every  trust,  whether 
of  a  private  or  public  nature.  He  is  the  chosen 
leader  of  350,000  people  who  have  reposed  con- 
fidence in  him,  and  his  record  shows  that  the 
confidence  was  not  misplaced.  He  is  a  kindly 
gentleman,  but,  you  say,  he  is  a  "Mormon,"  and 
polygamy  is  vile,  and  his  creed  ridiculous. 

Do  you  pause  to  consider  that  your  judgment 
may  be  at  fault?  I  have  never  heard  Joseph  F. 
Smith  express  condemnation  of  your  religion. 
His  book  of  life  is  open,  no  turned  down  page. 

In  reply  to  the  anticipated  question  about  poly- 
gamy, I  will  answer.  Don't  worry!  The  poly- 
gamy question  is  being  righted  in  a  humane  way, 
just  as  Christ  would  have  righted  it  were  he  on 
earth  to  give  the  word — on  a  square  deal  plan 
between  man,  woman  and  God.  If  the  hunters 
of  mole  hills  would  only  turn  their  batteries,  just 
for  a  little  while,  on  the  mountains  of  wickedness 
throughout  the  United  States,  and  then,  if  they 
have  any  spare  time,  give  a  little  attention  to  con- 
tinuing the  work  of  crowning  the  ancient  poly- 
gamists  spoken  of  so  kindly  in  the  book  of  law — 
the  Bible — they  would  be  better  off.  The  question 
of  polygamy  in  Utah  will  soon  be  a  thing  of  the 
past,  and  Utah's  sea,  if  clamor  ceases,  will  be  as 
tranquil  and  calm  as  a  summer's  morning. 

Joseph  F.  Smith  holds  positions  of  trust  and 
leadership,  because  of  his  ability  and  integrity, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  71 

and  for  the  advancement  of  industries  which 
would  have  never  been  set  afoot  but  for  him, 
rather  than  for  selfish  gain.  Investigate,  if  you 
are  interested,  then  decide  with  honor  bright,  for 
yourselves.  Joseph  F.  Smith  is  the  one  m'an  who 
struck  a  decisive  blow  for  the  separation  of  the 
church  from  the  state.  He  said  to  the  politicians. 
"Get  thee  behind  me.  The  church  is  not  in  poli- 
tics." 

He  should  have  praises  for  his  manliness  for 
settling  this  long-mooted  question,  but,  like  many 
others  who  deserve  credit,  and  do  not  get  it,  is 
cannonaded,  and  called  ugly  names  by  the  very 
men  who  sought  his  influence  which  they  now 
proclaim  a  crime  to  possess.  The  accusations 
which  have  been  hurled  at  this  man  are  untrue. 
He  is  a  splendid  foil  to  an  autocrat,  to  a  monarch 
or  to  unkindness. 

"Shall  tongues  be  mute,  when  deeds  are  wrought 

Which  well  nigh  shame  extremest  hell? 
Shall  freemen  lock  the  indignant  thought? 

Shall  Pity's  bosom  cease  to  swell? 
Shall  honor  bleed?     Shall  truth  succumb? 
Shall  pen  and  press  and  soul  be  dumb? 

—Whittier. 


72  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 


A  MAN 

He  stands  four-square  to  the  world, 

Resolute,  brave. 
The  tempest  against  him  hurled, 

Breaks  as  a  wave 
On  a  tall  cliff,  out  of  the  sea 

Rearing  its  form, 
In  unmoved  serenity, 
Braving  the  storm. 

With  fiber  of  oak  ingrained, 

Simple  but  strong, 
Self-balanced  and  self-contained, 

Firm  against  wrong. 
At  home,  with  a  genial  way, 

Sunny  and  bright, 
But  like  a  lion  at  bay 

When  in  the  fight. 

Too  proud  to  betray  a  trust, 

Hating  a  lie. 
Uncompromising,  but  just, 

Strong  to  defy. 
A  leader  for  truth  today 

Stands  in  the  van, 
Of  whom  all  the  world  can  say, 
"This  is  a  man." 

— This  poem  by  J.  A.  Edgerton, 
a  friend  of  humanity. 


Senator  Reed  Smoot. 

The  Man. 

This  article  was  published  in  the  Ogden  Sunday 
"Mormon  Examiner,"  September  9,  1906. 

Mr.  Editor:  As  a  friend  I  ask  for  space  to 
speak  for  a  friend,  just  a  few  true  words  of  a 
truthful  man  who  has  never  spoken  untruthfully 
or  unkindly  of  any  man. 

I  have  before  me  a  poem,  "The  Land  of  Joy," 
by  S.  E.  Kiser,  and  as  I  read  it  the  thought  came : 
If  fraternal  love  were  the  ruling  power,  what  a 
beautiful  home  this  world  would  be  for  all  of  us. 

The  poem  describes  the  conditions  when  the 
world  is  free,  when  civilization  has  attained  a  de- 
gree worthy  of  our  pride  and  boast.  All  men 
working  in  harmony  and  rejoicing  in  their  labors, 
no  slanderers,  no  liars,  no  hypocrites.  I  quote  one 
verse : 

"On  every  corner  high  stones  were  raised 

And  the  names  of  the  living  were  chiseled  there. 
And  those  who  merited  praise  were  praised. 

Hence  gladness  abounded  everywhere. 
Whenever  a  fair  thing  might  be  said, 

They  chiseled  it  there  on  a  gleaming  stone, 
They  didn't  wait  till  a  man  was  dead 

To  praise  the  courage  that  he  had  shown." 


74  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Xo  wonder  the  toilers  for  humanity  get  tired 
when  they  look  about  them  and  see  the  awful  con- 
ditions in  human  life,  that  after  so  many  centuries 
of  struggle  towrard  human  civilization  that  such 
little  progress  has  been  made  in  the  development 
of  heart  and  brain,  in  kindness,  in  decency,  espe- 
cially so  in  our  political  affairs — politics  really 
being  the  all-important  factor  in  the  physical  and 
mental  world. 


NOT   WORTH   THE   COST 

Recently  a  man  was  asked :  "Why  not  run  for 
a  political  office ;  we  need  good  men  ?"  The  man 
answered :  "Well,  sir,  I  love  my  home,  my  coun- 
try, my  city,  but  my  love  is  not  strong  enough  to 
place  myself  in  a  position  to  have  filthy  abuse 
thrown  at  me  all  the  time  or  to  be  called  nasty, 
ugly  names  which  are  to  be  found  only  in  the  vo- 
cabulary of  a  hoodlum." 

"I  would  say  further,  never  have  I  imagined 
that  this  town  or  country  couldn't  get  along  with- 
out my  political  services.  I  know  of  no  position 
in  or  obtainable  in  so-called  politics  that  is  worth 
while  or  worth  the  fuss  and  trouble  one  is  com- 
pelled to  pass  through  to  secure  it. 

"I  see  no  honor  in  public  office.  Honor  is  not 
doled  out  nor  tacked  on.  Honor  comes  from 
within,  bv  a  noble  life  by  service  to  humanity. 

"Character,  and  character  only,  is  the  source 
from  which  honor  comes  to  man. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  75 

"No,  thank  you,  my  well-meaning  but  mistaken 
friend,  good-day." 

As  my  friend  passed  on  I  thought  of  the  slang 
of  "Bill"  and  "Tom,"  "Jack"— and  again  "Bill," 
and  many  vile  names  given  to  gentlemen  for  whom 
people  will  very  likely  be  erecting  monuments  to 
their  honor  in  a  few  years  from'  now. 


WHEN  JUSTICE  REIGNS 

When  justice  instead  of  revenge;  when  the 
man  and  not  the  brute  controls  our  humanity,  na- 
tions and  communities  will  reap  untold  benefits, 
better  service,  better  men  and  a  happier  people 
everywhere. 

"For  through  the  future  shines  the  golden  age 
Of  brotherhood.    A  new  humanity 
Foretold  by  poet,  prophet,  saint  and  sage, 
Will  work  together  when  the  world  is  free." 


The  Honorable  Reed  Smoot  and  his  beautiful 
family  have  been  held  up  to  scorn  and  ridicule  and 
for  four  years  have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  an 
ignorant,  un-American,  clamoring  crowd,  with 
barely  a  voice  to  cry  shame  on  their  defamers. 

Men  here  and  there  with  brush  and  pen  orig- 
inating vile  stories,  so  that  they  may  be  circu- 
lated throughout  the  land.  And  yet  we  boast  of 


76  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

•ur  Christianity,  our  Golden  Rule  under  the  ban- 
ner of  the  cross ! 

The  abuse  is  all  on  account  of  his  religion, 
because  he  is  a  "Mormon,"  for  there  is  not  one 
stain  upon  his  character. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  of 
this  State  provides  for  absolute  freedom  of  re- 
ligious worship  and  perfect  toleration  of  religious 
sentiment. 

Fellow  Americans,  if  you  are  not  true  to  this 
principle,  you  may  be  the  next  attacked  by  bigots. 
We  m'ust  stop  them  or  none  of  us  are  safe. 

A  howling  bigot  is  more  dangerous  than  is  a 
drawn  sword  in  the  hands  of  an  idiot. 

THE  MANNER  OF  MAN 

I  am  personally  acquainted  with  Reed  Smoot. 
I  know  him'  to  be  a  big,  broad-minded,  generous 
man,  according  the  same  rights  and  privileges  as 
a  citizen  and  a  fellow  man  to  all  he  meets  on  life's 
highway  as  he  claims  for  himself. 

After  an  acquaintance  with  this  good  man  foi 
over  twenty  years,  I  can  say  never  has  he  been 
the  man  to  crowd  his  religious  beliefs  or  his  ideas 
on  anyone. 

Reed  Smoot  is  in  the  broadest  sense  an  Amer- 
ican citizen,  holding  above  all  things  allegiance  to 
the  Government.  Whatever  party  be  in  power, 
Republican  or  Democratic,  or  if  any  other  party 
comes  into  power  by  the  vote  of  the  people,  ReeH 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  ii 

Smoot  will  never  say  he  holds  no  allegiance  to 
the  administration. 

He  was  honestly  elected  to  represent  Utah  in 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  by  men  belong- 
ing to  various  creeds,  and  some  with  no  creed, 
and  of  different  nationalities. 

It  was  a  legislative  body  of  men  as  intelligent 
as  any  to  be  found  in  all  America,  who  sent  him 
to  Washington. 

When  Reed  Smoot  came  before  the  public  it 
was  popular,  all  over  the  United  States,  as  it  is 
now,  to  shout  about  and  against  the  "Mormons." 
His  political  enemies  and  traducers  were  cog- 
nizant of  this  fact,  and  they  clutched  at  this  ad- 
vantage like  birds  of  prey.  Then,  like  buzzards, 
they  emptied  their  nastiness  over  him  in  an  en- 
deavor to  destroy  his  influence  and  character. 

Then  the  lie  was  sent  forth  by  men  clothed  in 
robes  of  purity  that  Reed  Smoot  was  a  polygam- 
ist — had  three  wives.  This  was  and  is  the  most 
popular  lie  of  all.  The  people  enjoy  it  so  much. 
This  sensational  story  took  like  wildfire,  and 
thousands  now  refuse  to  be  disillusioned  from' 
this  favorite  black  crow  story. 

I  am  pleased  to  say  that  the  truth  has  been 
forced  upon  many  people  throughout  the  coun- 
try and  the  strength  of  the  lie  has  been  very 
much  weakened. 

After  this  story  somewhat  failed,  his  religion 
and  his  church  were  pounced  upon  and  our  coun- 


78  LEASES  OF  TRUTH 

try  has  been  all  agog  for  years  with  "Much  ado 
about  nothing." 

Reed  Smoot  has  never  been  a  polygamist,  un- 
der any  system. 

"CHURCH  INFLUENCE" 

\\lien  William  Jennings  Bryan  came  into  the 
political  arena,  the  great  weapon  with  which  to 
whip  the  Republican  party  was  the  cry  of  im- 
perialism. It  helped  to  kill  Wm.  McKinley,  but 
the  Republican  party  still  lives.  There  was  no 
basis  or  foundation  for  the  cry,  but  nevertheless 
it  served  well  and  was  a  most  useful  lie. 

There  are  many  men  in  Utah  and  elsewhere 
who  have  danced  the  old  dance  against  the  "Mor- 
mons" for  so  long  a  time  that  they  seem  to  have 
forgotten  every  other  tune. 

The  fight  against  the  "Mormon"  church  should 
have  ended  in  1890.  Since  then  the  basis  for  a 
continuation  of  it  has  been  imaginary,  but  a  cer- 
tain class  of  men  dance  and  dance  and  repeat 
their  incantations  until  imaginary  ghosts  become 
to  their  illiberal  minds  a  reality.  So  we  have  in 
Utah  the  awful  spectre  of  church  influence,  which 
is  a  favorite  cry  against  the  Hon.  Reed  Smoot. 
Every  individual  has  a  right  to  his  influence,  be 
he  Methodist,  Catholic,  Mormon,  Presbyterian, 
Congregationalist  or  Holy  Jumper.  In  a  desire 
to  kill  a  church  you  should  at  least  be  careful  not 
to  kill  the  citizen. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  .  79 

The  Church  is  not  in  politics  but  individual 
"Mormons"  are,  and  they  have  as  much  right  to 
be  as  has  Theodore  Roosevelt,  who  at  times  takes 
the  pulpit.  Because  any  man  is  in  politics,  that 
is  not  a  combination  of  church  and  state. 

This  warfare  is  for  the  rights  of  conscience, 
of  religious  liberty  in  America.  A  man  who  is 
a  "Mormon,"  or  a  Methodist,  has  an  inalienable 
right  to  political  life,  irrespective  of  whatever 
position  he  may  hold.  If  he  has  not  that  right, 
it  is  well  for  people  of  all  creeds  or  of  no  creeds 
to  know  it.  "Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of 
mental  liberty." 

The  struggle  now  on  is  testing  the  strength  of 
this  principle  of  mental  liberty  under  the  Stars 
and  Stripes.  Liberals  all  over  the  world  are 
watching  the.  battle  and  hoping  for  liberty's  suc- 
cess. 

"Justice  is  tardy,  and  comes  by  degrees 
While  truth  in  the  world  creeps  low  on  her  knees, 
Assailed  by  ignorance,  hate  and  disease, 
But  the  time  to  hail  her  is  now." 

In  this  country  a  man's  religion  is  and  should 
be  his  personal,  private  property.  No  person  has 
a  natural  right  or  a  governmental  right  to  inter- 
fere with  a  man's  religion  any  more  than  he  has  a 
right  to  meddle  with  his  pocketbook,  and  "he 
who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash." 

The  shrieking,  unthoughtful  abuse  which  has 
been  heaped  upon  Mr.  Smoot  by  so-called  Chris- 


Ito  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tians  disgraces  the  name  and  should  bring  a 
blush  for  shame  for  the  church  in  His  name  to  ev- 
ery thinking  member,  be  it  man  or  woman,  who 
aims  to  followr  the  Master  in  His  steps  of  loving 
kindness. 

Reed  Smoot  has  never  spoken  an  unkind  word 
of  his  traducers.  He  has  borne  all  the  abuse  and 
calumny,  believing  all  the  time  in  the  reasoning 
powers  and  justice  of  American  manhood  and 
womanhood. 

In  every  way  his  character  is  clean  and  above 
reproach.  Yet  he  is  the  most  abused  man  in  the 
United  States.  Think  of  it ! 

Character  is  what  a  man  really  is.  Reputa- 
tion is  what  people  say  or  think  a  man  is. 

Vile  slander  can  only  be  understood  by  the  un- 
derstanding of  a  depraved  order  of  the  human 
mind,  the  beast  in  man,  which  is  the  poison  in  the 
cup  of  life. 

I  read  in  the  Saturday  Eveneing  Post  a  few 
days  ago  a  statement  that  "while  Richard  Mans- 
field was  recovering  from  a  dangerous,  nearlv  f •» 
tal,  attack  of  typhoid  fever  he  received  an  anony- 
mous letter  coarsely  and  grossly  expressive  of 
the  writer's  animosity,"  and  with  a  lively  regret 
that  he  (Mansfield)  had  not  died. 

"With  fame  in  just  proportion    envy  grows. 
The  man  who  makes  a  character  makes  foes. 
Slight,  peevish  insects  round  a  genius  rise, 
As  a  bright  day  awakes  a  world  of  flies, 
With  haughty  malice,  but  with  feeble  wing, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  81 

They  show  they  live,  they  flutter  and  they  sting ! 
But  as  by  depredations  wasps  proclaim 
The  fairest  fruit,  so  these  the  fairet  name." 

Public  opinion  does  not  prove  anything.  There 
is  no  degree,  no  judgment  in  what  "they"  say. 

Thoughtless  people  simply  chatter  and  repeat 
words.  Merely  a  contest  of  which  can  speak  the 
nasty  word  first. 

The  whole  defamation  of  the  Latter-day  Saints' 
church  and  of  its  members  is  a  falsehood  from 
beginning  to  end.  The  church  is  m'ore  helpful 
than  others,  and  its  people  are  just  as  pure,  just 
as  thoughtful,  just  as  intelligent,  just  as  virtuous 
as  any  class  of  people  in  the  world ;  plain  kindly 
and  hospitable,  and  just  as  free. 

For  a  real  good  case  of  public  clamor  read 
the  15th  chapter  of  St.  Mark.  Read  it  now. 

WHY    FIGHT   A   TEMPERATE    MAN? 

As  to  the  fight  being  made  by  the  women  of 
America,  "they  know  not  what  they  do."  If  the 
principles  of  the  great  organization  known  as  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  stand  for  aught,  or  if  the  members 
of  that  society  knew  and  truly  adhered  to  its 
teachings,  such  men  as  Reed  Smoot  would  be  ap- 
preciated and  their  sons  would  be  taught  to  em- 
ulate his  honest,  clean,  sober  life.  His  life  rep- 
resents the  uplifting  ideas  and  principles  taught 
by  and  found  in  the  books  and  Bibles  of  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union. 
7 


82  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

In  the  life  of  Reed  Smoot  there  is  no  turned 
down  page.  He  is  a  man!  I  know  him  and  J 
like  him.  As  to  his  religion  I  have  nothing  to 
say.  That  is  nobody's  business  but  his  own.  I 
submit  a  few  lines  from  Alexander  Pope  for  the 
consideration  of  egotists  everywhere  : 


"Let  not  this  weak,  unknowing  hand 

Presume  Thy  bolts  to  throw, 
And  deal  damnation  round  the  land 
On  each  I  judge  Thy  foe. 

"If  I  am  right,  Thy  grace  impart, 

Still  in  the  right  to  stay. 
If  I  am  wrong,  oh  teach  my  heart 
To  find  that  better  way." 

What  a  blessing  it  would  be  to  our  nation  if 
the  politicians  and  newspapers  would  give  the 
people  something  to  think  about  instead  of  to 
fight  about;  teach  the  principles  of  their  respec- 
tive parties.  The  voters  would  then  know  how 
to  vote  on  election  day.  Men  who  were  men  be- 
fore they  were  politicians,  should  cease  being  pol- 
iticians rather  than  cease  being  men.  Stop  call- 
ing each  other  ugly  names.  It  is  not  only  mean, 
but  it's  very  silly  and  thinkers  laugh  at  you. 

NOT  A   MORAL   COMBAT 

The  fuss  and  feathers  which  have  been  made 
and  which  are  still  going  on  in  Utah  were  found- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  83 

cd  in  nasty,  selfish  politics  and  to  claim  the  battle 
was  or  is  for  morality  would  be  as  ridiculous  as 
for  an  old  hen  to  give  a  lecture  on  chastity. 

Reed  Smoot  is  an  energetic,  honest,  genial,  re- 
liable business  man,  a  faithful  husband  an  af- 
fectionate father  and  a  true  friend.  He  has  a  no- 
ble wife  and  six  children,  types  of  physical  and 
intellectual  promise.  He  is  true  to  his  trusts  both 
of  a  private  and  public  character. 

It  is  well  to  consider  that  while  in  Washington 
Senator  Smoot's  every  move  has  been  made  while 
a  clamoring  crowd  was  ever  pointing  at  him  the 
ignorant  finger  of  scorn  and  derision.  But  withal 
he  has  gained  the  esteem  and  respect  of  the  think- 
ing, "know-something,"  reasoning  people  of 
America. 

The  people  are  thoroughly  tired  of  personal 
abuse.  They  are  asking  for  some  policy  of  gov- 
ernment, some  principle,  something  to  think 
about  for  the  betterment  of  conditions.  They  are 
tired  of  slang,  tired  of  seeing  animals  fight,  tired 
of  clamor  without  thought  or  knowledge. 

There  never  has  been  in  the  history  of  our  na- 
tion such  a  demand  for  pure,  honest,  unselfish 
men  as  now,  who  are  ready  to  do  something  for 
the  welfare  of  the  people  at  large.  Men,  now  is 
your  chance. 

Men,  my  brothers!  Let  your  neighbor's  re- 
ligion alone. 

Attend  to  your  own  business.  Do  something 
worth  while,  and  remember  always 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

"Who  misses  or  who  wins  the  prize, 
Go  lose  or  conquer  as  you  can, 
But  if  you  fail  or  if  you  rise, 
Be  each,  pray  God,  a  gentleman." 

We  should  aim  for  a  nobler  manhood,  irre- 
spective of  material  success. 

NOTE: — This  was  printed  in  pamphlet  form 
and  received  a  wide  circulation  in  the  East.  A 
copy  was  sent  to  many  of  the  United  States  Sen- 
ators. 


SENATOR  SMOOT'S  TELEGRAM,  AND 

REPLY  TO  IT. 
W.  U.  T.  Co. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

February  20,  1907. 
To  Mr.  John  P.  Meakin, 

New  York  City,  N.  Y ., 

347  W.  34th  St. 

Hopkins  amendment  making  two-thirds  neces- 
sary to  declare  Senator  not  entitled  to  seat,  yea 
49,  no  22.  Carmack's  substitute  for  expulsion,  yea 
27,  no  43.  Burrows  resolution  amended  as  above. 
yea  28,  no  42.  REED  SMOOT. 

Senator  Reed  Smoot,  Washington,  D.  C. 

I  congratulate  you  personally  with  all  my  heart. 
Reason  is  the  lamp  of  Justice,  thoughtless  clamor 
the  weapon  of  bigotry.  Ignorance  has  been 
beaten  for  once.  I  rejoice  with  the  thinkers  of 
America.  JOHN  P.  MEAKIX. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  85 


GUARD  THINE  ACTION. 

''When  you  meet  with  one  suspected 

Of  some  secret  deed  of  shame, 
And  for  this  by  all  rejected 

As  a  thing  of  evil  fame — 
Guard  thine  every  look  and  action — 

Speak  no  heartless  word  of  blame— 
For  the  slanderer's  vile  detraction 

Yet  may  soil  thy  goodly  name. 

"When  you  meet  a  brow  that's  aweing 

With  its  wrinkled  lines  of  gloom', 
And  a  haughty  step  that's  drawing 

To  a 'solitary  tomb — 
Guard  thine  action ;  some  great  sorrow 

Made  that  man  a  spectre  grim, 
And  the  sunset  of  tomorrow 

May  have  left  thee  like  to  him. 

"When  you  meet  with  one  pursuing 

Paths  the  lost  have  entered  in, 
Working  out  his  own  undoing 

With  his  recklessness  and  sin — 
Think,  if  placed  in  his  condition, 

Would  a  kind  word  be  in  vain? 
Or  a  look  of  cold  suspicion 

Win  thee  back  to  truth  again? 


86  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

'There  are  spots  that  bear  no  flowers, 

Not  because  the  soil  is  bad, 
But  that  summer's  gentle  showers 

Never  made  their  bosom's  glad; 
Better  have  an  act  that's  kindly 

Treated  sometimes  with  disdain, 
Than  by  judging  other  blindly 

Doom  the  innocent  to  pain." 


Prejudice. 

Prejudice  is  the  midnight  burglar  of  happi- 
ness in  human  life. 

Prejudice  robs  us  of  life's  sweetest  perfumes. 
We  see  no  flowers  in  the  gardens  of  others.  The 
mind  becomes  narrowed,  dwarfed  and  cramped. 
Our  whole  life  and  being  becomes  a  morass  where 
slimy  serpents  cling  and  coil. 

Prejudice  is  like  a  prison  cell  with  walls  both 
dense  and  cold.  No  ray  of  heavenly  sunlight  pen- 
etrates the  gloom.  The  mind  is  in  darkness  when 
caged  in  the  cell  of  prejudice. 

When  prejudice  enters  the  mind,  the  light  of 
God  goes  out.  It  obliterates  the  essence  of  di- 
vinity and  makes  of  man  a  walking  thing  in  hu- 
man shape. 

Prejudice  causes  a  stagnant  pool  instead  of  a 
babbling  brook  which  sings  its  merry  song  and 
journeys  on  through  hill  and  dale,  cheering  as  it 
goes,  making  the  meadows  green  and  turning  the 
wheels  of  industry. 

Prejudice  causes  men  to  become,  as  it  were, 
posts  rather  than  trees.  Under  its  blighting  in- 
fluence villages  and  towns  become  museums  and 


88  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

curiosity  shops,  rather  than  thriving  cities  with 
life,  purity  and  animation. 

To  be  a  man  in  the  true  sense,  the  mind  must 
be  clear;  a  pure  conscience  must  guide  our  ac- 
tions. The  higher  faculties  must  be  in  operation. 
Whatever  issues  from  a  source  where  reason  is 
dethroned  and  hate  rules  the  action,  no  matter 
how  well  chosen  the  words  or  how  beautiful  the 
diction,  it  is  but  as  "sounding  brass  and  tinkling 
cymbals"  and  leaves  a  trail  of  sorrow  in  its  wake. 

Every  man  who  raves  in  anger  at  his  fellows, 
either  in  speech  or  with  pen,  reflects  the  status  of 
his  own  soul  and  not  of  the  one  who  is  the  tar- 
get of  his  hate. 

Thinkers  who  think  will  have  none  of  the  stuff 
which  emanates  from  a  darkened  soul  which  has 
been  destroyed  by  prejudicial  poison.  Nothing 
ever  comes  from  scattering  poisonous  weeds  in 
the  garden  of  life.  A  liberal  man  will  recognize 
the  fact  that  his  neighbor's  religion  and  the  cere- 
monies combined  with  it  are  his  neighbor's  pri- 
vate property.  The  inner  consciousness  of  re- 
ligion is  dearer  and  more  sacred  than  life  itself. 
I  want  you  to  understand  that  the  other  man's 
religion  is  mine  to  defend. 

John  Fiske  said :  "A  man's  belief  is  a  part  of 
the  man — take  it  away  by  force  and  he  will  bleed 
to  death." 

If  you  have  climbed  to  the  shining  heights  of  in- 
tellect, and  if  you  believe  you  have  found  the  bet 
ter  way,  open  your  arms  in  fraternal  love  and 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  89 

tenderness  and  beckon  your  fellow  pilgrims  up 
into  the  brighter  light,  the  purer  way,  instead  of 
cutting  them  with  the  daggers  of  ridicule  and 
piercing  their  souls  with  scorn.  Turn  the  search- 
light upon  your  inner  self  before  you  call  you 
brother  a  fool. 

Men  and  women,  brothers  and  sisters  of  this 
great  country  of  ours,  stop  your  clamor.  Think 
and  investigate  for  yourselves,  then  decide  under 
the  light  of  reasoning  manhood.  With  good  will 
toward  all  and  malice  toward  none. 

"Give  me  the  soul  to  feel  ashamed 
'If  for  my  fault  another's  blamed ; 
Let  me  for  justice  take  a  stand, 
In  friendship  clasp  my  neighbor's  hand ; 
Then  at  the  closing  of  life's  dream 
I'll  gladly  die." 


'X  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 


LIFE'S  MIRROR. 

There  are  loyal  hearts,  there  are  spirits  brave, 
There  are  souls  that  are  pure  and  true ; 

Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have 
And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you. 

Give  love,  and  love  to  your  life  will  flow 

A  strength  in  your  utmost  need ; 
Have  faith,  and  a  score  of  hearts  will  show 

Their  faith  in  your  word  and  deed. 

Give  truth,  and  your  gifts  will  be  paid  in  kind, 

And  honor  with  honor  meet ; 
And  a  smile  that  is  sweet  will  surely  find 

A  smile  that  is  just  as  sweet. 

Give  pity  and  sorrow  to  those  who  mourn ; 

You  will  gather,  in  flowers  again, 
The  scattered  seed  from  your  thoughts  outborne, 

Though  the  sowing  seemed  but  vain. 

For  life  is  the  mirror  of  king  and  slave. 

Tis  just  what  we  are  and  do. 
Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have 

And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you. 

— Madeline  S.  Bridges. 


Address  to  Liberal  Club. 

TELLS  THREE  HUNDRED  NEW  YORKERS  ABOUT  UTAH 
AND  THE  MORMONS 

Special  Correspondence. 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 

The  following  is  the  substance  of  a  lecture  de- 
livered by  Mr.  Meakin  of  Utah  before  the  Man- 
hattan Liberal  Club  on  Friday  evening,  February 
23,  before  three  hundred  prominent,  thinking 
people.  Mr.  Meakin  was  introduced  by  the  pres- 
ident of  the  club,  Edwin  C.  Walker,  in  the  fol- 
lowing well-chosen  words : 

"Mr.  Meakin  of  Salt  Lake  will  address  us  to- 
night on  the  subject,  'Utah  and  the  Mormons.' 
Although  an  Englishman  by  birth,  Mr.  Meakin 
is  essentially  an  American,  having  lived  in  this 
country  since  boyhood.  Mr.  Meakin's  experi- 
ence as  a  dramatic  reader,  and  also  as  a  lecturer 
along  fraternal  lines,  has  been  most  varied,  tak- 
ing him  from  San  Francisco  to  New  York. 

"The  belief  that  ultimately  man  will  understand 
the  true  meaning  of  the  fatherhood  of  God  and 
the  brotherhood  of  man,  has  led  Mr.  Meakin  to 
study  the  social  and  ethical  phases  of  American 


92  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

life  from  coast  to  coast.  This  has  eminently  fitted 
him  to  give  a  fair  and  unprejudiced  opinion  of 
the  unique  people  among  whom  he  has  lived  for 
forty  years  in  Salt  Lake  City,  the  capital  of  Utah. 
"Mr.  Meakin  is  not  a  member  of  any  church. 
He  is  a  fraternalist,  and  is  a  prominent  worker  in 
the  West,  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Ben- 
evolent Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and 
the  Maccabees.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Meakin's  dis- 
course the  subject  may  be  discussed  by  the  audi- 
ence, allowing  seven  minutes  for  each  person. 
Members  given  the  preference." 

LECTURE   LASTED  AN    HOUR 

The  lecture  was  of  an  hour  and  twenty  min- 
utes' duration,  and  gave  a  lucid  and  unprejudiced 
account  of  Utah,  past  and  present. 

Mr.  Meakin  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  brave 
pioneers  and  their  work  in  Utah. 

The  doctrine  of  the  "Mormon"  church  was 
touched  but  lightly.  The  educational  status  of  the 
community  at  large  and  women  in  particular  and 
the  life  and  character  of  Senator  Smoot  were 
dwelt  upon. 

The  words,  "Every  man's  religion  is  mine  to 
defend,"  elicited  enthusiastic  applause.  Mr. 
Meakin  smiled  and  said,  "Thank  you ;  you  are  the 
first  liberals  I've  found;  most  so-called  liberals 
being  bigots." 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  93 

Mr.  Meakin  won  the  hearts  of  the  audience, 
and  at  the  close  was  warmly  applauded. 

CRIES  FOR  SCHROEDER 

When  the  subject  was  thrown  open  for  discus- 
sion, there  was  no  response.  But  Mr.  A.  T. 
Schroeder,  who  had  repeatedly  given  adverse  lec- 
tures and  criticisms,  who  is  also  a  member  of  the 
club,  was  present.  Cries  for  Schroeder  were 
raised  on  all  sides.  So  Mr.  Schroeder  took  the 
stand,  and  giving  the  exact  date  for  established 
free  public  schools  left  the  impression  that  there 
were  no  public  schools  in  Utah  up  to  that  time. 
He  also  stated  that  the  leaders  of  the  "Mormon" 
church  opposed  education. 

John  G.  McQuarrie,  who  was  present  and  was 
the  next  speaker,  stated  emphatically  that  Mr. 
Schroeder's  statements  were  false,  as  he  had  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  in  south- 
ern Utah  in  a  most  obscure  portion  of  the  state. 

A  WOMAN  SPEAKS 

After  Mr.  McQuarrie's  remarks,  a  lady's  voice 
asked,  "Are  women  allowed  to  speak?"  "Yes, 
yes,"  was  echoed  all  around,  when  Mrs.  Ruth 
Eldredge  Meakin  walked  to  the  front  and  in  a 
somewhat  frightened  manner  addressed  the  as- 
sembly. She  said,  in  substance :  "My  parents 
are  members  of  the  Mormon  church.  My  grand- 


94  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

father,  Orson  Pratt,  was  one  of  the  original 
Twelve  Apostles,  and  I  wish  to  correct  some  of 
the  erroneous  impressions  created  by  Mr.  Schroe- 
der's  remarks.  I  am  no  public  speaker  and  have 
no  data. 

"I  believe  Utah,  in  common  with  other  states 
in  the  far  west,  did  not  boast  of  free  schools  until 
a  comparatively  recent  date,  but  public  schools  she 
always  has  had,  and  in  the  early  days  these  I  be- 
lieve were  held  not  in  government  buildings,  but 
in  Mormon  meeting  houses,  freely  donated  for 
that  purpose. 

"I  received  my  own  education  before  the  free 
system  was  established  in  Salt  Lake  City  in  pub- 
lic schools,  in  the  state  university,  and  also  read 
in  my  father's  home  Spencer,  Huxley,  Darwin  and 
other  scientific  writers,  unhindered  by  my  par- 
ents. So  I  could  not  refrain  from  correcting  this 
misinformation." 

SCHROEDER  REFUTED 

A  gentleman  who  was  introduced  as  Mr.  Eu- 
gene Smith,  also  a  member  of  the  club,  arose  and 
said: 

"We  have  with  us  tonight  living  testimonials  to 
refute  Mr.  Schroeder.  They  prove  that  Utah 
boasts  not  only  of  educated  people,  but  ladies."  He 
said  he  had  always  wondered  at  Mr.  Schroeder's 
persistent  attack  upon  the  "Mormons,"  as  he  was 
so  liberal  in  other  directions.  "I  have  heard," 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  95 

Mr.  Smith  continued,  "that  he  was  once  an  at- 
torney for  the  anti-Mormons  at  Washington. 
Maybe  he  still  is,  and  that  accounts  for  it." 

Mr.  Oppenheimer,  a  Socialist  leader,  represent- 
ing the  Russian  Jews,  came  next.  He  could  not 
understand  why  these  brave  pioneers  had  so  soon 
forgotten  their  wrongs;  as  he  understood  the 
''Mormon"  people  were  the  only  denomination 
that  failed  to  assist  the  Jews  in  Russia,  and  this 
Mr.  Smoot,  this  good  Mr.  Smoot,  if  he  were  such 
a  nice,  kind  gentleman,  so  free  from  corruption, 
he  was  out  of  place  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
but  what  the  gentleman  principally  wanted  to 
know  was  "what  the  hierarchy  did  with  the  tith- 
ing and  what  they  did  to  the  serfs  who  refused  to 
pay  tithes."  "That's  what  I  want  to  know." 

A  PERTINENT  QUESTION 

Mr.  Moncure  D.  Conway,  an  aged  gentleman, 
with  a  patriarchal  appearance,  also  a  well  known 
writer  on  sociology,  was  the  last  questioner. 

In  a  gentle,  kindly  voice,  he  asked  Mr.  Meakin 
direct:  "Can  you  tell  me  why  this  murderous 
prejudice  dogs  the  Mormons  so  persistently?  It 
can't  be  for  moral  reasons,  for  the  social  evil  lurks 
everywhere.  I've  traveled  all  over  the  country, 
here  and  in  Europe,  and  I  am  confronted  every- 
where by  this  mysterious  abuse,  for  it  is  and  al- 
ways has  been  a  mystery  to  me  why  the  Mor- 
mons are  so  villified." 


96  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Mr.  Meakin  had  fifteen  minutes  to  answer  all 
questions. 

"I'll  begin,"  said  he,  by  taking  up  Mr.  Con- 
way's  question  first.  I  don't  know  why  the  Mor- 
mons are  so  abused  unless  it  is  they  are  a  good 
people.  Slander  is  a  great  deal  like  a  snowball, 
as  it  rolls  it  grows.  Now,  for  instance,  my  friend 
Schroeder — God  bless  him — got  started  and  can't 
stop. 

A   CARTOON 

''Public  opinion  is  a  curious  thing.  I  remem- 
ber, when  a  boy,  while  playing  in  my  father's 
shop  in  London,  of  seeing  an  American  newspa- 
per with  cartoons  on  its  pages.  It  struck  my 
childish  fancy  and  has  remained  with  me  ever 
since,  as  a  powerful  first  impression  which  prob- 
ably never  would  have  been  changed  if  I  had  re- 
mained in  Europe.  The  cartoon  was  a  leafless  tree 
in  whose  branches  sat  an  immense  baboon  with  a 
human  face,  its  long  claw-like  fingers  reaching  for 
a  huge  single  nut.  On  this  nut  was  printed  The 
White  House.'  Underneath,  'Will  he  get  it?' 

"I  asked  my  father  whose  face  that  was?  He 
replied,  'That's  Abe  Lincoln;  he's  trying  to  be- 
come president  of  the  United  States.' 

"Yes,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  was  'our'  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  yours  and  mine  and  everybody's. 

"Robert  G.  Ingersoll  said :    'Abraham  Lincoln 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  97 

was  the  greatest  mind  of  our  country,  during  the 
fiercest  civil  war,  and  now  'our'  gentlest  memory." 
"I  will  now  answer  Mr.  Oppenheimer.  I  am 
not  sure  as  to  whether  Utah  has  helped  the  relief 
fund  for  Russia.  I  do  know  the  'Mormons'  take 
care  of  their  own  poor.  Tithing  is  at  no  time 
compulsory  and  I  suppose  is  used  for  church  pur- 
poses in  the  same  way  as  the  funds  derived  from 
pewholders  and  contribution  plates  are  used  in 
other  churches;  as  a  matter  of  fact  that's  their 
business,  and  were  it  not  impertinent  I  would 
quote  the  story  of  Timpkins  and  Simpkins.  Timp- 
kins  met  Simpkins  and  said:  'Simpkins,  what 
makes  your  nose  so  red?'  'It  glows  with  pride, 
sir!  it  glows  with  pride,  at  not  poking  itself  into 
other  people's  business.' " 

Mr.  Meakin  briefly  reviewed  a  natural  condi- 
tion where  there  were  no  other  people  in  Utah 
than  "Mormons." 

The  rise  of  another  party,  after  the  influx  of 
"outsiders,"  and  many  bitter  battles  were  fought 
— "Mormon"  and  non-"Mormon." 

I  myself  voted  the  Liberal  ticket  as  the  anti- 
"Mormon"  party  was  then  known.  In  1890  the 
Liberal  party  won,  and  Mr.  Schroeder  knows 
how  it  was  done. 

The  fight  was  ended.  Utah  now  divided  on  the 
lines  of  the  two  great  national  parties,  Republican 
and  Democratic.  I  for  one  was  glad  of  it,  and  I 


8 


98  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

know  of  no  reason  to  be  otherwise  now.    I  never 
believe  in  striking  a  man  when  he's  down. 

"Let  the  dead  past  bury  its  dead, 
Act,  act  in  the  living  present, 
Heart  within  and  God  o'er  head." 

R.  E. 


Portrayal  of  Poverty-stricken  Con- 
ditions Which  Drive  Men  to 
Thievery  and  Crime. 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  June  16. 

It  has  been  some  time  since  I  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  readers  of  the  News  and  now,  as  I  am  west- 
ward bound  and  turning  my  back  on  the  great 
eastern  cities  I  thought  a  few  impressions  and 
thoughts  gained  by  experience  and  investigation 
in  actual  life  for  over  two  years,  might  be  of  in- 
terest. My  every  hour  has  been  occupied  mainly 
in  defending  the  people  of  my  state  and  telling 
the  easterners  the  beauties  of  our  mountain  home, 
our  resources,  our  advantages  for  home  and  busi- 
ness. It  gives  one  a  commingling  of  peculiar 
thoughts  on  human  life  to  see  it  as  I  have  seen  it- 
lived  in  the  east.  I  have  read  the  splendid  edi- 
torials in  the  News,  "On  Peace  and  War,"  "The 
Criminal  Wave,"  "Tillman's  Speech,"  and  many 
other  articles  bearing  on  the  question  of  "peace 
on  earth,"  and  of  turning  swords  into  pruning 
hooks,  etc. 

I  have  sat  in  Mr.  Carnegie's  peace  congress 


1UO  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

and  listened  to  the  aristocratic  orators  of  the  day 
as  to  the  fruit  of  the  tree  being  bettered  by  prun- 
ing the  top  branches  or  buzzing  around  the  roots. 
Perhaps  it  can  be  done;  I  hope  so.  But  a  child 
is  not  a  man  until  developed. 

I  am  still  an  optimist,  but  my  opinion  has  been 
a  little  shaken.  Many  people  do  not  wish  to  see 
or  hear  anything  that  jars  the  equilibrium  of  their 
pleasure.  In  my  estimation  it  is  well  to  be  alive, 
to  keep  an  eye  open  and  a  listening  ear  to  the 
noises  and  rumblings  of  horror  all  about  us. 

THE  SINKING  SHIP 

Many  people  are  like  the  selfish  fellow  who 
sat  on  the  upper  deck  of  a  ship  smoking  a  cigar 
and  when  his  brother  came  running  to  him  in  an- 
guish from  the  lower  hold,  exclaiming,  "Isaac, 
Isaac,  the  machinery  of  the  steamer  is  broken,  the 
ship  is  sinking,  sinking,"  answered  carelessly, 
after  another  puff  at  his  cigar.  'Veil,  let  it  sink. 
It  don't  belong  to  us."  I  want  to  say  that  the 
machinery  of  our  life  boat  is  out  of  order,  and  I 
want  to  exclaim  that  the  ship  does  belong  to  us, 
as  one  great  brotherhood,  and  each  of  us — man 
or  woman  should  do  our  part  towards  righting 
it. 

THESE  ARE  ACTUAL  CONDITIONS 

I  am  not  writing  on  the  slums  of  our  great 
cities,  but  on  the  conditions  that  exist  in  the  very 
heart  of  our  every-day  life.  Reason  has  given  me 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  101 

the  light  to  see  many  sad  and  many  pathetic  pic- 
tures pertaining  to  this  physical  existence.  I  con- 
fess the  pathetic  side  is  uppermost  in  my  mind  to- 
day for  I  have  heard  the  groans  of  the  starving 
and  the  wails  of  the  outcast  and  unfortunate. 

No  man  can  be  truly  happy  while  surrounded 
by  scenes  of  horror,  suffering  and  poverty,  and 
I  feel  as  the  poet  felt  when  he  said:  "If  the 
spirits  in  heaven  can  see  the  ruin  and  wretchedness 
here  below,"  they,  too,  are  unhappy. 

I  have  gazed  at  the  grandeur  and  at  the  awful- 
ness  of  our  present  day  civilization  and  have  asked 
what  is  it  all  about?  I  have  reached  one  conclu- 
sion, namely,  that  the  present  status  is  at  a  very 
low  ebb  and  that  it  stands  for  a  Golden  God  and 
for  concealment,  rather  than  for  humane  achieve- 
ment. Not  wrong  doing,  but  being  found  out, 
people  shun,  and  this  it  is  that  causes  pain,  and 
is  destroying  human  life  and  with  those  who  in- 
flict the  punishment  there  seems  to  be  no  higher 
purpose  than  getting  the  dollar. 

I  do  not  wish  to  take  a  part  for  the  whole  for 
I  fully  realize  that  all  across  the  ages  had  it  not 
been  for  the  few  the  ship  would  have  sunk  long 
ago. 

POVERTY  IS  APPALLING 

The  poverty  and  inequality  in  the  East  is  ap- 
palling, and  honesty  is  not  a  recommend.  Thou- 
sands of  people  are  pleading  for  work,  and  hun- 
dreds won't  work  at  all.  At  given  times,  at  night, 


102  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

thousands  stand  in  line  waiting  for  a  cup  of  cof- 
fee and  a  biscuit.  The  employer  is  a  monarch, 
the  toiler  a  pleader,  a  suppliant,  waiting  for  a 
crust  from  a  master's  table ;  humble,  very  humble. 
In  Philadelphia  they  have  a  society  known  as 
the  Sunday  Breakfast  association.  Here  can  be 
seen  from  twelve  hundred  to  two  thousand  men 
and  women  in  line,  fighting  for  their  place  to  get 
a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  little  food  with  a  side  dish 
of  religion  thrown  in.  They  are  of  all  nationali- 
ties; all  types,  but  with  manhood  and  woman- 
hood seemingly  gone;  beggars,  receiving  alms 
from  their  fellows,  with  no  thought  of  helping 
themselves,  nor  with  anyone  to  point  the  way. 
There  seems  to  be  barely  a  teacher  of  a  nobler 
manhood  in  the  field,  no  leader  and  nobody  cares, 
and  thus  humanity  drifts  like  a  helmless  vessel. 

WORKED  TO  DEATH 

Those  who  work  are  overworked,  worked  to 
death,  and  in  the  main  they  work  just  for  their 
board.  When  misfortune  overtakes  them  they  are 
simply  outcasts  and  fall  into  the  wretched  line  for 
coffee  and  bread. 

Many  of  our  well-known  writers  continually 
write  and  urge  "the  poor  devils"  to  work,  work, 
work !  "and  she  sang  the  song  of  the  shirt."  "Don't 
look  at  the  clock  for  quitting  time,  but  work, 
work,  work."  And  so  the  toiler  toils  and  the  mas- 
ter rides  and  smiles.  The  writers  travel  and  are 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  103 

healthy  and  happy,  but  the  curse  of  intense  anxi- 
ety is  plainly  visible  on  the  impoverished  faces  of 
the  toilers. 

NICKEL  AND   PENNY   BASIS 

There  is  a  class  of  people  after  the  dollar!— 
business,  and  money  mad,  but  the  majority  are 
petty  creatures  after  the  nickel  and  the  penny. 
Every  phase  of  life  is  figured  from  a  penny  basis 
up  to  the  nickel.  There  is  no  confidence  between 
man  and  man;  life  is  cold  and  harsh.  "Trust 
no  one"  is  the  motto.  The  installment  man  says 
in  glaring  ads,  "Your  credit  is  good,"  but  it's  a 
lie.  That  is  simply  a  bait  to  allure  the  poor  toilers 
into  the  snares  of  debt.  Dishonesty  stalks  through- 
out the  land  and  men  have  lost  their  honor  and 
their  reason.  In  New  York  City  every  door  mat 
is  chained  to  its  place  for  safe  keeping.  Nothing 
is  safe  beyond  the  care  of  a  watchful  eye.  Pla- 
cards are  hung  in  all  the  restaurants,  "Watch 
your  overcoat  and  hat;  many  have  been  stolen," 
and  even  then  the  thief  gets  'em.  The  genius  of 
another  class  is  taxed  to  invent  locks  and  racks  for 
coats  and  hats.  Thievery  seems  to  permeate  the 
air.  People  in  street  cars  are  held  up  in  the  bus- 
iest parts  of  the  city. 

The  street  railway  company  has  hung  in  every 
car  a  warning  to  passengers  that  no  transfer  will 
be  given  unless  asked  for  the  moment  the  fare 
is  paid. 


104  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

I  saw  on  a  Thirty-fourth  street  car  an  old  lady 
pay  her  fare  to  the  uniformed  "machine  man," 
but  the  old  soul  was  hardly  quick  enough  to  ask 
for  her  transfer,  so  he  passed  on  collecting.  As 
he  returned  to  the  rear  of  the  car  the  lady  made 
bold  enough  to  ask  for  her  transfer,  on  to  Eighth 
Avenue.  In  a  brutal  voice  and  with  a  more  brutal 
look  he  refused  the  dear  old  woman. 

The  old  lady  was  not  quite  dead.  She  prob- 
ably had  not  attended"Carnegie's  peace  congress," 
and  she  fought  back  a  little,  but  it  didn't  do  any 
good.  As  she  left  the  car,  she  again  asked  and 
was  once  more  refused.  The  brave  old  soul,  as 
she  stepped  down,  looked  the  fellow  in  the  face, 
and  said,  "You  ought  to  be  shot."  Others  in  the 
car  had  similar  thoughts,  and  thus  the  spirit  of 
murder  was  engendered  and  all  on  account  of  a 
nickel.  Another  evidence  of  a  nickel  and  penny 
civilization  is  that  of  a  large  display  card  in  the 
street  cars,  giving  a  deathly  warning.  All  it 
needs  to  make  it  complete  is  the  skull  and  cross- 
bones,  telling  the  calamity  which  will  befall  the 
patron  who  dare  by  kindness  or  otherwise  to  give 
away  a  transfer.  And  this,  mind  you,  after  hav- 
ing paid  for  it.  And  yet  we  listen  to  eloquent 
sermons  on  the  wonders  of  our  "penny"  civiliza- 
tion. 

BIG  AND  LITTLE  THIEVES 

There  are  big  and  proud  thieves  and  there  are 
little  thieves.    I  think  the  meanest  of  them  all,  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  105 

most  measly,  is  the  one  who  is  known  as  the  hall 
thief.  These  are  a  class  who  skulk  about  "with 
cat-like  tread,"  slip  into  rooming  houses,  unno- 
ticed, sometim'es  rent  a  room,  size  up  the  situa- 
tion and  study  the  customs  and  habits  of  the 
occupants.  They  are  very  proud  of  their  skill, 
but  still  they  do  not  wish  to  be  found  out,  for,  of 
course,  it  would  cause  them  some  trouble.  These 
fellows  seem  to  be  entirely  conscienceless. 

A  Utah  woman,  trained  in  honesty,  not  cunning 
enough  to  cope  with  human  snakes,  left  her  room 
for  another  part  of  the  house  for  about  fifteen 
minutes.  As  she  returned  from  upstairs,  she  no- 
ticed the  lights  in  the  hall  and  in  their  room  were 
out.  Her  intelligence  suggested  the  present  status 
of  honesty.  She  thought  of  her  pocketbook  and 
went  to  the  place  where  she  had  left  it,  but  it 
was  gone,  with  every  cent  of  money  she  had  in 
the  world.  This  occurred  at  eleven  o'clock,  at 
the  close  of  a  Sabbath  day.  I  could  tell  of  many 
such  instances  of  awful  depravity. 

The  spirit  of  graft  and  dishonesty  permeates 
the  air  and  is  destroying  the  joy  of  this  otherwise 
beautiful  life  and  making  of  it  one  of  misery  and 
despair. 

The  living,  or  success  of  today  in  the  physical 
world  means  the  survival  of  the  cunning.  It 
should  not  be  so,  nor  need  it  be  so,  if  we  only 
would  be  true  to  ourselves  and  live  up  to  our 
highest  ideals. 

Before  we  can  have  peace  on  earth  we  must 


106  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

have  a  peace-living  and  a  peace-loving  people. 
They  must  be  honest  and  true  to  their  inner  and 
better  selves ;  a  government  of  the  people  cannot 
be  much  ahead  of  the  people.  However,  I  be- 
lieve that  men  are  really  better  than  they  act. 
The  inner  soul,  the  real  man,  needs  to  be  devel- 
oped to  control  the  life ;  this  is  the  only  secret  of 
success. 

Poverty  is  the  curse  of  the  world;  it  is  detri- 
mental to  the  growth  of  all  that  is  noble  and  true ; 
the  better  qualities  are  crushed  out  of  the  living, 
and  low  selfishness  rules  the  life. 

People  should  not  be  taught  to  shout  and  foam 
on  religion  and  politics.  They  should  be  taught 
to  stand,  think,  and  meditate.  To  work  should 
not  be  classed  or  looked  upon  as  low  or  dishon- 
orable. The  woman  who  works  and  earns  her 
living  is  just  as  good  as  the  woman  who  never 
works  and  eats. 

The  man  who  toils  and  digs  is  just  as  good  as 
the  man  who  adds  figures  and  scratches  with  a 
pen.  If  not,  the  disgrace  is  not  in  the  digging. 

Schools  should  be  established  in  every  town  and 
city,  teaching  the  philosophy  and  principle  of  a 
true,  honest,  real  manhood,  how  to  live  and  act 
on  earth. 

PERFECTION 

The  germ  or  soul  of  perfection  is  in  every 
human  being  as  the  perfect  or  symmetical  oak 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  107 

tree  is  in  the  acorn — it  lacks  the  light,  proper  en- 
vironment— that's  all.  All  grades  of  men  and 
women  need  to  be  developed,  taught,  educated  in 
soul,  mind  and  heart.  In  physical  life  the  masses 
should  be  urged  to  keep  away  from  the  large  cities 
— to  live  in'  the  fields — to  go  back  to  Eden,  till 
the  soil — be  natural.  Get  close  to  nature. 

People  must  learn  to  keep  their  hearts  clean 
and  their  hands  will  keep  themselves.  To  edu- 
cate the  head  and  not  the  heart  makes  of  man 
a  refined  savage. 

We  can  never  have  peace  on  earth  until  we 
recognize  one  brotherhood.  This  brotherhood 
cannot  be  achieved  until  the  race  has  a  universal 
education ;  each  individual  developed  and  aiming 
for  his  highest  ideal. 

In  the  words  of  Tennyson : 

"Cursed  be  the  social  wants  that  sin  against  the  strength 

of  youth! 

Cursed  be  the  social  lies  that  warp  us  from  the  living 
truth ! 

"Cursed  be  the  sickly  forms  that  err  from  honest  na- 
ture's rule ! 

Cursed  be  the  gold  that  gilds  the  straitened  forehead  of 
the  fool !" 

The  cry  continually  goes  up  that  God  is  love, 
but  man  has  to  prove  it  by  his  course  of  living. 
No  practical  demonstration  of  the  idea  that  God 
is  love  can  be  found  in  a  land  of  "savages,"  un- 


108  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

less,  perhaps,  we  behold  the  love  in  nature,  outside 
of  man  and  exclaim,  with  Dr.  Watts:  "Where 
every  prospect  pleases  and  only  man  is  vile/' 

To  be  optimistic  does  nof  mean  that  we  shall 
close  our  eyes  to  the  wrongs  about  us.  Today 
man,  in  general,  is  simply  an  educated  machine, 
without  a  tender  humane  heart  or  a  soul  guiding 
conscience.  In  proof  of  this  look  about  you  and 
think ;  see  the  cruelty  continually  practiced  by  man 
on  man.  Listen  to  the  cries  of  white  faced,  half 
starved  children  in  hovel,  street  and  factory.  See 
the  depravity  and  dishonesty  everywhere.  Con- 
fidence in  man,  by  man,  is  dying  and  men's  prom- 
ises are  like  broken  reeds.  Men  are  scarce  whose 
word  "is  their  bond."  The  trend  of  life  seems 
to  be  to  make  men  honest  by  machinery,  regis- 
ters, etc.  It  cannot  be  done. 

Millions  are  starving  in  a  land  where  nature 
herself  is  lavish  with  her  many  bounties,  surely 
we  lack  sense  and  judgment. 

The  horrors  and  the  sorrows  of  the  present  age 
can  only  be  even  partially  comprehended  by  peo- 
ple who  think  and  have  eyes  to  see  and  ears  to 
hear. 

Humanity  is  deformed  by  the  demons  of  ig- 
norance and  low  selfishness.  Egotism,  graft, 
drunkenness  and  debauchery  permeate  nearly 
every  phase  of  life. 

Murders,  suicides,  revenge  and  death  are  the 
results,  to  a  very  great  extent,  of  existing  condi- 
tions. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  109 

Cultivate  a  pure  soul  conscience,  it  will  cheer 
and  guide  you  through  all  the  vicissitudes  and 
give  you  a  broader  vision  of  life  and  its  duties. 

It  is  for  us  to  make  a  better  world  by  develop- 
ing reason  and  kindness.  We  must  have  a  race 
of  real  men  before  we  can  realize  peace  on  earth 
among  men  and  nations. 

"Noble  is  he  whose  moral  strength 

Beats  down  the  walls  of  wrong, 
Whose  honest  manhood  uplifts  man, 
Whose  life  is  like  a  song. 

"The  brave  and  steadfast  conqueror 

Of  appetite  and  sin, 
He  flings  hope's  stately  portals  wide 
And  bids  the  lost  come  in." 


110  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

IT  IS  COMING 
By  J.  A.  Edgerton 

How  bright,  how  sweet  this  world  would  be 

If  men  could  live  for  others ! 
How  sweet,  how  bright,  how  full  of  light 
This  life,  if  justice,  truth  and  right 
Were  once  enthroned ;  if  men  were  free ; 

If  men  would  all  be  brothers ! 

And  is  this  nothing  but  a  dream  ? 

Must  wrong  go  on  forever? 
Must  poverty  forever  be? 
And  selfish  greed  and  tyranny? 
Must  hate  and  strife  be  still  supreme 

And  love  and  peace  come  never? 

Xo.    I  will  not  believe  it.    No. 

God  still  reigns  somewhere,  brother. 
Somewhere,  sometime,  the  race  will  climb 
Above  its  selfishness  and  crime ; 
Will  gentler,  nobler,  happier  grow ; 

And  men  will  love  each  other. 

The  morn  is  rising  soft  and  bright. 

The  way  grows  light  before  us. 
Cheer,   brother,   cheer,   through   doubt,  through 

fear, 

The  world  grows  better,  year  by  year; 
And  fast  and  bright  a  day  of  light 

Will  spread  its  white  wings  o'er  us. 


Boston. 

NEW  YORK. 

A  flood  of  thoughts  rushed  through  the  brain 
while  visiting  historic  Boston.  Boston  is  both 
unique  and  majestic.  The  old  part  of  town  is  just 
as  the  first  calf  laid  out  its  streets  by  winding 
round  and  round.  Some  of  the  lanes,  called 
streets,  are  so  crooked  that  one  can  meet  himself 
coming  around  the  corner.  I  said  to  a  friend, 
my  guide :  "Is  it  safe  for  us  to  go  down  this  al- 
ley?" If  I  hadn't  been  from  the  West,  my  escort 
would  never  have  forgiven  me  for  such  a  ques- 
tion. He  assured  me  that  it  was  not  an  alley,  but 
to  the  contrary,  it  was  one  of  Boston's  prominent 
streets.  In  the  heart  of  the  business  part  of  the 
town  stands  the  old  state  house,  suggestive  of 
the  early  struggles  for  liberty.  On  the  front  of 
the  building  is  the  old  English  emblem,  the  lion 
and  the  unicorn,  the  atmosphere  all  around  is 
quite  "English,  you  know."  I  stood  in  the  room, 
on  the  spot,  against  the  old  historic  window, 
where  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read 
to  the  populace  for  the  first  time.  In  after  years, 
in  his  old  age,  John  Adams,  pointing  to  the  spot, 


112  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

said :  "Then  and  there  the  child  of  Independence 
was  born."  In  the  same  room  John  Hancock 
was  inaugurated  governor  of  Massachusetts.  Old 
churches,  old  buildings  antedating  the  revolution, 
are  yet  in  good  state  of  preservation — mile  stones 
of  "Ye  Olden  Times,"  pointing  the  way,  though 
the  way  be  changed.  Old  scenes,  old  songs,  old 
relics  linger  and  make  Boston  one  of  the  charm- 
ing spots  of  the  world. 

The  people  are  dignified,  cultured,  but  too  close 
together  to  be  neighborly,  and  if  one  wants  to 
hear  a  human  voice,  though  he  may  be  in  crowds, 
he  has  to  talk  to  himself.  It  isn't  in  good  taste, 
"you  know,"  to  speak  to  a  stranger — not  even 
to  say  "Good  morning." 

AGAINST   THE  RULES 

Our  friend,  J.  U.  Eldredge,  Jr.,  was  fortunate, 
or  unfortunate,  enough  to  stay  over  Sunday  in 
Boston.  There  he  sat  in  solemn  silence  from  nine 
o'clock  Sunday  morning  until  eleven  o'clock 
Monday.  Report  says  that,  getting  desperate,  he 
asked  a  colored  man,  just  for  company,  to  take 
"something"  with  him,  but  the  colored  man  said : 
"It  is  against  the  rules  of  the  house  to  drink  with 
strangers,  sah !"  And  the  only  way  to  get  the 
waiter  to  take  "something"  was  to  "tip"  him,  and 
"Jodie"  was  still  left  alone. 

The  traffic  in  the  narrow  streets  is  one  contin- 
uous jam,  and  if  not  for  the  police  force  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  113 

wheels  would  stop  and  human  life  would  be  more 
than  in  danger.  Standing  on  every  corner  is  a 
big,  kindly-hearted  policem'an,  seemingly  never 
tiring  in  his  arduous  task  of  answering  questions 
and  protecting  life  and  limb.  I  talked  with  one 
of  these  big  fellows.  His  name  was  G.  W.  Rae, 
who  has  been  on  the  force  many  years.  I  found 
him  one  of  God's  noblemen.  He  said  the  street 
work  was  very  tiring  on  one's  nerves,  but  long 
experience  made  it  now  comparatively  easy.  If 
the  accidents  averted  or  lives  saved  were  recorded 
it  would  make  a  very  interesting  book.  These 
men  are  encyclopedias  of  information,  and  they 
give  it  with  a  graciousness  which  makes  a  stran- 
ger feel  after  all  that  fraternal  love  does  still 
exist,though  it  is  hidden  behind  the  clouds  of  caste 
and  etiquette.  Boston's  policemen,  though  it  is 
their  business,  make  one  feel  as  though  the  world 
is  growing  kindlier. 

AT  HARVARD  UNIVERSITY 

Accompanied  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Fish,  Jr.,  late  min- 
ister of  the  Unitarian  Society  in  Salt  Lake,  I 
visited  Harvard  University — the  oldest,  the  larg- 
est, and  the  wealthiest  institutions  of  learning  in 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Fish  spent  seven  years 
within  its  walls,  and  graduated  a  scholar  and  al- 
ways a  gentleman.  In  this  great  university,  in- 
cluding the  summer  schools,  there  are  five  thou- 
sand students.  We  first  entered  the  library,  and 


114  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

who  should  be  the  first  to  greet  us  but  Prof. 
George  M.  Marshall  of  the  University  of  Utah; 
hand-clasps  and  hearty  words  of  welcome  were 
in  order;  books  and  studies  were  cast  aside  and 
for  three  hours  we  tramped  and  "did"  Harvard 
University  thoroughly.  Every  building  is  a  source 
of  thought  and  admiration.  Many  of  Ameri- 
ca's greatest  sons  were  developed  in  this  cradle  of 
learning.  My  life  is  not  filled  up  with  many  re- 
grets, but  while  visiting  this  grand  institution  I 
wished  that  I  could  retrace  the  steps  of  age 
twenty-five  years,  and  if  so,  I  would  graduate 
from  Harvard,  if  I  had  to  carry  a  "shine-box" 
to  make  a  living  while  going  through.  I  have 
thought  many  times,  if  I  could  only  open  the 
eyes  of  thoughtless  boys  to  the  possibilities  with- 
in their  grasp,  they  would  then  throw  away  the 
cigarette,  the  drink,  the  dissipation  of  all  kinds 
and  get  out  onto  the  highway  of  "onward  and 
upward,"  so  that  in  after  years  their  foot  prints 
v:ould  be  indelibly  imprinted  on  the  sands  of  time, 
telling  to  those  who  come  after  them,  "This  is 
the  way,  out  of  darkness  into  light;  out  of  ig- 
norance into  intellectuality;  out  of  animal  life 
into  a  spiritual  life." 


ENTRANCE  TO  UNIVERSITY 

On  a  tablet  to  the  right  of  the  main  entrance 
is  the  following  inscription,  spelled  in  the  old- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  115 

fashioned  way,  with  the  letter  "U"  made  like  a 
"V" : 

"After  God  had  carried  us  safe  to  New  Eng- 
land and  we  had  builded  our  houses,  provided 
necessaries  for  our  livelihood,  reared  convenient 
places  for  God's  worship  and  settled  the  civil  gov- 
ernment, one  of  the  next  things  we  longed  for 
and  looked  after,  was  to  advanced  learning  and 
perpetuate  it  to  posterity,  dreading  to  leave  an  il- 
literate ministry  to  the  churches  when  our  present 
ministers  shall  lie  in  the  dust,  New  England's 
first  fruits." 

SALOONS   UNKNOWN 

If  time  would  permit  I  should  like  to  give  a 
description  of  each  building,  with  its  various  de- 
partments and  contents.  There  are  over  seventy 
buildings  or  halls  in  the  University;  many  of 
them  are  over  one  hundred  years  old.  Here  and 
there  are  tablets  telling  the  visitor  that  such  men 
as  General  Washington,  General  Putnam,  Steven 
Page  (the  first  printer),  and  other  historic  names 
lived  here.  Harvard,  of  course,  is  at  Cambridge, 
but  the  two  cities  are  joined  by  a  bridge,  hence  one 
doesn't  realize  that  he  is  out  of  Boston.  Cam- 
bridge, however,  is  Cambridge!  Harvard  being 
its  main  feature.  There  are  no  saloons,  no  gam- 
bling houses,  nor  hotels  in  Cambridge;  and  in 
going  about  one  feels  as  though  he  is  in  the  at- 
mosphere of  learning  and  of  goodness.  We  wan- 


116  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

dered  and  enjoyed  the  living  influence  of  our 
forefathers,  under  the  academic  shade  of  the  old 
elm  trees. 

We  visited  the  beautiful  old  home  where  Long- 
fellow lived  and  wrote — where  from  his  heart 
and  brain  were  launched  the  grand  and  beauti- 
ful thoughts  which  have  blessed  and  cheered  hu- 
manity. 

The  city  is  very  picturesque  and  an  historical 
halo  seems  to  pervade  the  air.  One  of  its  main 
beauties  is  its  trees.  No  vandalism  is  allowed, 
either  by  the  people  or  the  engineers.  Every 
tree  is  protected!  Here  stands  a  giant  tree  in 
the  middle  of  the  street ;  and  here  stands  another 
right  square  in  the  middle  of  the  sidewalk,  and 
every  man,  woman  and  child  in  Cambridge  pro- 
tects and  says  "Spare  the  tree,  touch  not  a  single 
bough!"  The  stupid  men  of  Salt  Lake  City 
who  ordered  or  allowed,  or  did  the  cutting  down 
of  its  trees,  would  not  last  fifteen  minutes  in 
Cambridge. 

A    MUSICAL   TREAT 

After  leaving  dear  old  Harvard  another  treat 
was  in  store  for  me.  Mr.  Fish  escorted  me  to  the 
grand  concert  in  Symphony  Hall,  given  by  the 
Boston  Symphony  Orchestra.  Here  I  listened  to 
the  greatest  orchestra  and  the  most  sublime  music 
given  by  nearly  a  hundred  of  the  world's  greatest 
musicians.  The  program  was  the  Fantastic 
Symphony,  No.  1,  in  C  Major,  Op.  16  A,  by  Hec- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  117 

tor  Berlioz.  I  assure  my  friends  of  Utah  that 
this  was  the  musical  treat  of  my  life.  The  con- 
cert was  given  on  Friday  afternoon,  every  seat 
was  occupied,  and  not  one  of  the  three  to  four 
thousand  people  made  a  move  to  go  out  or  to  dis- 
turb the  beauty  and  harmony  of  the  occasion. 
Boston  is  the  "Hub"  of  musical  learning  and  de- 
velopment of  the  human  mind. 

For  two  days  I  was  the  guest  of  Mrs.  George 
S.  Cheney  and  her  daughter  and  son,  Mrs.  and 
Mr.  Almon  J.  Fairbanks,  all  cultured  and  musical 
people,  Mr.  Fairbanks  being  one  of  the  prominent 
organists  of  Boston.  In  this  beautiful  home,  for 
two  evenings  to  a  number  of  invited  guests,  I 
gave  the  story  of  "Utah  and  the  Mormons."  My 
efforts  to  remove  the  silly  prejudices  which  ex- 
ist in  the  minds  of  the  people  were  thoroughly 
appreciated.  The  people  everywhere  are  inter- 
ested in  Utah,  and  after  breaking  through  the 
walls  of  prejudice  and  once  getting  a  hearing, 
they  are  delighted  with  the  truth,  and  say 
"Amen !" 

I  am  in  New  York  at  this  writing.  I  had  the 
pleasure  on  Sunday  evening  of  paying  a  visit  to 
New  York  Lodge  No.  1,  Benevolent  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  I  was  received  most  kindly  by 
one  of  the  best  and  brainiest  bodies  of  men  I 
have  ever  met  with.  Of  course  they  called  on 
the  "man  from  Utah"  and  I  had  every  indication 
by  applause  and  hand-clasps  that  I  had,  in  the- 
atrical parlance,  "made  good."  The  meeting  was 


118  LEAVES  O  FTRUTH 

one  long  to  be  remembered  by  me,  and  all  the 
Elks  sent  greetings  to  Salt  Lake  Lodge  No.  85 
of  Salt  Lake  City.  After  the  meeting  proper,  a 
banquet  was  served  in  my  honor,  and  again  we 
dwelt  in  the  realm  of  joviality,  and  Utah  was 
voted  to  be  "all  right." 

I  shall  be  here  another  day,  then  wend  my  way 
to  the  West,  stopping  in  Chicago  a  few  days,  then 
on  to  Denver.  I  have  several  invitations  to  go  to 
other  Eastern  cities,  but  cannot  do  so  now. 

AT  THE  SMOOT  INVESTIGATION 

I  was  at  Washington  one  week  and  spent  most 
of  the  time  in  the  Committee  Room,  listening  to 
the  investigation  of  the  "Mormon"  church,  under 
the  title  of  "Smoot  Inquiry."  During  the  weary 
hours,  I  thought  that  if  William  Shakespeare 
were  only  living  and  should  by  chance  have 
dropped  in,  what  food  for  thought  he  would  have 
found,  splendid  material  for  a  new  comedy,  un- 
der an  old  title,  "Much  Ado  About  Nothing."  A 
smile  would  involuntarily  come,  to  see  these  great 
heads  puzzling  their  migthy  brains  as  to  what 
God  would  do  and  what  people  would  do,  sup- 
posing this  and  supposing  that ;  prying  into  sacred 
family  relationships,  and  by  technicalities  making 
criminals  of  men  and  women  who  are  faithful 
and  honorable,  whose  lives  are  records  of  integ- 
rity— men  who  have  been  true  to  their  religious 
and  moral  obligations,  entered  into  years  ago 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  119 

when  no  law  existed  against  polygamy  or  when, 
at  least,  the  government  permitted  it,  by  ignoring 
it.  I  stood  in  the  halls  where  Hamilton,  Lincoln, 
Clay,  Webster,  Calhoun,  Blaine,  Garfield,  McKin- 
ley  and  many  others  lived  and  philosophized. 
Then  I  looked  and  listened  to  our  great  ( ?)  mer 
confound  the  world  by  wise  laws,  etc.,  in  a  seem- 
ing attempt  to  break  a  natural  law,  which  is  in 
itself  next  to  an  impossibility,  and  surely  they 
knew  it.  They  seem  to  think  that  a  man  who  has 
lived  with  a  plural  wife  for  many  years,  who  has 
borne  children  to  him,  can  and  ought  to  be  cast 
aside  as  so  much  trash,  simply  to  be  fed  like  an 
ox.  These  men  seem  to  think  that  a  man  may 
be  a  husband  and  yet  not  be  a  husband.  "Ye 
gods !  what  fools  these  mortals  me." 

WOULD  YOU  ? 

Lawyers  seem'ed  indignant  because  people  who 
have  gone  through  the  Endowment  House  re- 
fuse to  divulge  the  ceremonies  they  obligated 
themselves  to  keep  sacred  to  themselves,  whose 
lives  have  proven  through  the  years  that  have 
past  that  nothing  ever  was  given  to  them  or  cre- 
ated by  them  which  was  detrimental  to  the  laws 
and  government  of  our  nation.  I  was  at  a  fra- 
ternal, or  secret  society,  meeting  a  few  nights  ago 
and  the  poor  "Mormons,"  of  course,  were  get- 
ting badly  abused.  Every  witness  who  had  re- 
fused to  break  his  obligation  before  the  commit- 


120  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tee  was  being  censured.  "They  were  all  bad 
men,"  because  they  would  not  be  Judas  Iscariots. 
During  the  conversation  I  asked  the  question  in 
emphatic  terms,  "Would  you?"  and  the  boot  had 
been  switched  to  the  other  leg.  Public  clamor 
seems  to  have  made  nearly  all  the  people  forget 
the  golden  rule. 

The  underlying  principle  of  all  the  so-called  se- 
cret or  fraternal  societies  is  not  to  divulge  that 
which  you  may  see  or  hear,  and  in  my  estimation 
a  thoroughbred  will  never  break  his  oath. 

The  difference,  as  I  see  it,  between  the  "Mor- 
mon" church  and  its  obligations  and  the  secret 
society  obligations  is;  namely,  the  one  embraces 
morals,  purity,  and  religion,  and  they  call  it  re- 
ligion ;  the  latter  teach  purity,  morality  and  honor 
but  do  not  call  it  religion.  There  is  not  a 
Knight  of  Pythias,  a  Mason,  an  Elk,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  or  an  Eagle  anywhere  who  would  give 
one  so-called  secret  away,  if  his  refusal  meant 
death,  and  every  man  who  violates  his  oath  taken 
in  the  Endowment  House,  or  a  fraternal  society — 
his  oath  is  not  worth  taking — he  would  betray  his 
Christ! 

The  favorite  remark  by  many  people  I  meet 
who  are  ignorant  as  to  the  "Mormon"  side  of  the 
story,  or  the  life  of  the  "Mormons,"  is,  "They 
— the  Mormons — ought  to  be  swept  off  the  face  of 
the  earth  because  of  their  impurity!"  and  while 
they  are  saying  this  I  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve they  look  too  high  over  mountains  and 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  121 

plains  and  miss  the  things  close  by,  or  else  they 
are  deaf  and  blind.  Again,  they  surely  forget 
the  Master's  teachings,  when  he  said,  "Go  thou 
and  sin  no  more."  Wherever  I  go  I  find  many 
adherents  to  "churchianity,"  but  not  so  many  to 
"Christianity."  It  is  observed  by  many  that 
through  all  this  investigation,  not  one  word  of 
fault  has  been  found  in  the  life  and  character  of 
Senator  Reed  Smoot.  He  has  borne  all  this  abuse 
and  villification  without  a  murmur.  Let  me  ask, 
which  is  nearest  the  Master,  the  abuser  or  the 
abused  ? 

BRADY   NO   INFORMER 

That  was  a  beautiful  word  picture  with  a  dark 
background  given  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Brady,  of  Idaho, 
before  the  committee.  He  spoke  of  the  old  gray- 
haired  man  and  woman  in  the  twilight  of  life 
living  in  polygamy.  He  told  of  the  old  man  with 
his  gray  locks  and  sitting  beside  him  his  good 
old  wife,  both  "waiting  for  the  shadows  to  be  a 
little  longer  grown,"  reading  their  Bible  or  sing- 
ing "Rock  of  Ages"  in  voices  soft  and  low." 

Stealthily,  an  enemy  (a  reformer?)  crawls 
through  the  front  gate,  and  like  a  snake  creeping 
on  his  belly  under  bushes  and  trees,  up  to  the 
window,  the  curtain  being  a  little  drawn  aside — 
through  this  opening  he  sees  the  old  couple,  ah ! 
it  was  a  plural  wife.  In  the  shadow  he  makes  a 
note  of  date,  hour,  and  minute,  etc.,  then  stealth- 


122  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

ily  he  slinks  away  into  the  darkness  and  informs 
on  the  old  m'an.  "Some  may  do  that  work,"  said 
Brady,  but  I  won't!*' 


THE  UNDER  DOG 
By  David  Barker 

I  know  that  the  world — that  the  great  big  world— 

From  the  peasant  up  to  the  king, 
Has  a  different  tale  from  the  tale  I  tell, 

And  a  different  song  to  sing. 

But  for  me,  and  I  care  not  a  single  fig 
If  they  say  I  am  wrong  or  I  am  right, 

I  shall  always  go  in  for  the  weaker  dog — 
For  the  under  dog  in  the  fight. 

I  know  that  the  world — that  the  great  big  world — 

Will  never  a  moment  stop 
To  see  which  dog  may  be  in  the  right, 

But  will  shout  for  the  dog  on  top. 

But  for  me — I  never  shall  pause  to  ask 

Which  dog  may  be  in  the  right — 
For  my  heart  will  beat,  while  it  beats  at  all, 

For  the  under  dog  in  the  fight. 

Perchance  what  I've  said  I  had  better  not  said, 
Or  'twere  better  I  had  said  it  "incog," 

But  with  heart  and  with  glass  filled  chock  to  the 

brim, 
Here's  luck  to  the  bottom  dog. 


Mrs.  Weed's  View  of  "Mor- 
monism." 

NEW  YORK. 

In  my  letter  of  this  week  I  had  purposed  writ- 
ing of  various  interesting  phases  of  my  travels. 
These,  however,  have  been  crowded  out  of  my 
mind,  through  having  attended  a  lecture  given 
by  Mrs.  Martha  C.  Weed,  at  the  Bedford  Heights 
Presbyterian  church  in  Brooklyn,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  As  usual,  these  ladies, 
through  the  medium  of  Mrs.  Weed,  made  a  vig- 
orous attack  upon  Senator  Reed  Smoot  in  par- 
ticular and  the  "Mormon"  church  in  general. 

Mrs.  Weed  made  no  claim1  against  Reed  Smoot 
beyond  saying  he  was  a  "Mormon."  She  began 
her  attack  as  follows : 

"We  have  in  the  capital  of  our  nation  a  representative 
of  the  Mormon  Church.  He  holds  an  honored  seat,  a 
position  second  only  in  influence  to  that  of  the  president 
of  the  United  States.  This  has  a  significance.  It  means 
that  the  organization  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  is  powerful, 
that  there  are  some  men  who  love  money  better  than 
they  do  their  country;  that  there  are  purchased  con- 
sciences." 

In  thinking  of  the  integrity  of  Utah's  senator 
and  also  of  the  corrupt  methods  rife  within  our 


124  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

country,  where  bribe-taking,  election  frauds,  fad 
and  fancy  frauds,  insurance  frauds  and  various 
other  kinds  of  frauds  do  not  prevent  men  from 
holding  high  political  position,  and  meting  out 
justice  from  the  bench,  I  could  scarcely  refrain 
from  shouting,  "By  all  means  question  the  re- 
ligion and  the  morals  of  America's  senators,  that 
we  may  always  have  men  for  law-makers  who 
are  not  law-breakers." 

Mrs.  Weed's  entire  evening  was  devoted  to 
stories  of  the  "Mormons"  forty  years  ago,  and  all 
of  the  authentic  quotations  from  church  publi- 
cations were  excerpts  from  discourses  and  prayers 
given  in  public.  Any  thinking  person  under- 
stands that  extemporaneous  speakers  often  say 
things  best  left  unsaid.  The  creeds  of  all  the 
churches  in  Christendom,  judged  by  this  standard, 
could  be  attacked.  Moreover,  one  paragraph 
from  any  speech  or  work  can  be  made  to  mean 
anything — "the  devil  can  quote  scripture  for  his 
own  purpose." 

In  proof  that  Brigham  Young  ruled  his  people 
with  an  iron  rod,  Mrs.  Weed  told  the  wonderful 
"green  gate  story"  and  also  brought  out  two  new 
schemes  of  villifying  the  "Mormons,"  viz:  child 
wives  and  a  singular  method  of  punishing  de- 
linquents. 

In  addition  to  the  oft-told  tales  about  the 
"Mormons,"  Mrs.  Weed  sprang  some  new  ones. 
To  quote: 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  125 

"Latter-day  Saints  must  obey  every  command  of  the 
priests.  If  disobedient  either  a  physical  death  or  a  damn- 
ing of  the  soul  will  be  the  punishment." 

I  knew  they  were  called  serfs  and  slaves,  but  I 
did  not  know  that  they  could  choose  their  own 
medicine — killed  and  be  saved  or  live  and  be 
damned. 

It  seems,  now,  since  I  heard  Mrs.  Weed,  that 
the  "Mormons"  surely  are  between  the  devil  and 
the  deep  sea. 

The  audience  seemed  to  believe  the  stories  and 
opened  their  eyes  and  mouths  for  more. 

Another  innovation  stolen  from  the  far  East : 

"The  mortality  among  child  mothers  is  evinced  by 
the  cemeteries  of  Utah." 

This  horrible  jest  needs  no  comment  among  the 
readers  of  the  News,  who  could  instruct  Mrs. 
Weed,  should  she  lecture  again,  upon  the  broad 
educational  and  political  rights  of  the  women 
of  Utah.  Sad,  if  it  were  not  so  silly,  was  her 
statement,  that  a  wife  (of  course  a  polygamous 
one)  had  no  secrecy,  and  shared  one  room  with 
many  others. 

Here's  another  flower  plucked  from  a  garden 
of  Weeds.  American  women  can  think  as  well 
as  cook.  O  ladies  of  Mormonism,  your  cook- 
ing was  not  impeached,  but  your  thinking  capac- 
ity, O  my,  nothing  to  it.  Mrs.  Weed  informed 
us  that  when  people  are  earnest  something  always 


126  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

happens.  I  dread  to  think  what  may  come  to  you 
good  women  of  Utah  should  Mrs.  Weed  open  a 
school  for  the  development  of  thought  power 
amongst  the  "ignorant"  womanhood  of  Utah. 

It  is  said  that  all  speakers  and  writers  express 
some  good  thoughts.  Mrs.  Weed  proved  this 
rule.  She  said : 

I" As  soon  as  legislators  realize  the  wants  of  the 
people  there  will  be  laws  regarding  polygamy.  In 
church  we  weep  over  the  harems  of  the  far  east, 
but  I  would  ask  you  to  assist  in  securing  legis- 
lation to  abolish  the  harems  in  our  own  country." 

Of  course  she  meant  New  York  or  perhaps 
Chicago,  or  even  Washington,  D.  C. 

There  was  the  usual  hue  and  cry  of  divine  au- 
thority being  dearer  to  the  "Mormons"  than  gov- 
ernmental law,  ending  up  with  an  appeal  for  the 
Saints  of  the  east  to  crush  the  saints  of  the  west 
and  escheat  their  property  for  the  glory  of  God. 

The  lady  erred  again.  She  should  have  said, 
"for  the  glory  of  politicians." 

At  the  close  of  the  lecture,  a  dear,  good  old 
lady  with  a  firm  step  and  standing  very  erect  and 
combined  with  this  attitude  a  deep  manly  voice, 
complimented  the  audience  and  the  lecturer,  and 
after  an  appeal  for  the  audience  to  now  fill  the 
passing  hat  as  full  as  their  heads  had  been  filled, 
she  called  for  volunteers,  three  very  intelligent 
men  were  needed  to  frame  strong  telegrams  to  be 
sent  to  the  senators  of  the  state  to  urge  the  oust- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  12? 

ing  of  Reed  Sm'oot  from  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate. 

Thomas  C.  Platt  and  Chauncey  Depew  were 
the  ideals  appealed  to,  to  purify  the  American 
Home.  It  is  to  laugh,  Eh? 

At  the  conclusion  of  a  report  of  Mrs.  Weed's 
lecture  given  in  the  Brooklyn  Citizen,  it  said : 

"In  the  large  audience  were  six  persons  who 
held  a  little  aftermeeting  in  front  of  the  church. 
They  held  up  the  male  members  of  the  congre- 
gation and  tried  to  impress  upon  them  that  Mor- 
monism  was  all  right." 

Your  humble  servant  was  that  six  and  the  re- 
porter was  the  male  members.  The  funny  part 
of  it  was,  what  he  heard  from  the  "six"  was  the 
only  bit  of  truth  he  gleaned  about  Utah,  the  wh<-<ie 
of  the  evening. 


New  York  as  Seen  from  a  Yacht. 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 

I  extend  greetings  to  all  my  Utah  friends. 

I  left  you  last  in  Cleveland.  I  am  now  in  New 
York,  where  so  much  is  to  be  heard  and  seen  that 
to  describe  greater  New  York,  comprising  the 
boroughs  of  Manhattan,  Brooklyn,  Queens,  Bronx 
and  Richmond,  would  be  no  easy  task,  for  each 
borough  is  a  city  in  itself  as  New  York  is  a  world 
in  itself,  whose  inhabitants  consider  it  the  center 
of  existence. 

Its  most  interesting  feature  lies  not  in  its  great 
size,  but  rather  in  its  wonderful  enterprises,  to 
describe  which  would  need  all  the  superlatives  of 
our  language,  for  in  area  it  is  the  largest  city  in 
the  world  and  in  population  next  to  the  largest. 

Its  boroughs  are  joined  together  by  the  great- 
est of  suspension  bridges  and  traversed  through 
their  length  and  breadth  by  the  most  complete 
and  expensive  street  car  systems  comprising  cable 
and  electric  cars,  subways  and  elevated.  So  in  ar- 
riving at  his  destination  one  can  ride  under  the 
city,  over  the  city  and  above  the  city,  but  he  has 
to  hustle  to  get  a  seat.  Now  to  continue  our 
superlatives,  Broadway  is  the  longest  street  in  the 
world. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  12* 

New  York's  parks  are  the  largest  and  costliest 
in  the  world,  and  its  business  districts  contain  the 
most  gigantic  office  buildings,  whose  foundations 
are  sunk  deeper  toward  the  center  of  the  earth 
and  whose  summits  tower  higher  toward  the 
heavens  than  those  of  any  other  city. 

The  largest  steamships  harbor  in  New  York. 
Here  also  are  found  the  most  luxurious  and  mag- 
nificent residential  palaces  and  the  poorest  and 
most  pitiful  hovels.  One  can  say  truly,  that  like 
the  upper  and  lower  crust  of  a  pie  the  meat  lies 
between.  For  in  no  place  that  I  have  ever  visit- 
ed is  one  so  struck  with  the  truth  that  America's 
hope  for  the  future  lies  in  her  middle  classes. 

New  York  can  hardly  be  called  an  American 
city  in  its  strictest  sense — it  is  so  cosmopolitan  in 
its  character.  It  is  roughly  estimated  that  85  per 
cent  of  the  inhabitants  are  foreign,  there  being  six 
hundred  thousand  Hebrews,  a  greater  Jewish  pop- 
ulation than  that  to  be  found  in  all  Palestine.  There 
are  more  Irish  in  New  York  than  in  Dublin,  more 
Germans  than  in  any  city,  excepting  Berlin,  more 
Italians  than  in  Florence  and  Rome  combined. 
The  Jews  and  the  Irish  are  more  patriotic  toward 
their  adopted  country  than  are  their  brothers,  who 
for  the  most  part  come  to  America  to  make  their 
fortunes,  after  which  they  expect  to  return  to 
their  native  land. 

The  entire  population  of  New  York,  according 
to  the  census  of  1900,  had  reached  3,500,000. 


10 


130  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

"NEW  YORK  FROM  A  YACHT." 

Possibly  the  best  impression  of  New  York,  as 
a  whole,  can  be  given  by  your  taking  an  imag- 
inary sail  with  me  on  the  tourist  yacht,  which 
makes  an  entire  circle  of  Manhattan  Island.  This 
island  has  thirty-six  miles  of  water  front. 

We  start  from  West  Twenty-Second  Street 
pier,  sailing  through  the  North  river  past  the  piers 
of  the  big  ocean  liners,  with  their  background  of 
sky  scrapers,  proceeding  almost  due  south,  until 
we  reach  the  Battery.  Battery  Park  forms  the 
extreme  southern  terminus  of  Manhattan  Island 
and  affords  an  admirable  view  of  New  York 
harbor. 

The  emigrants  are  landed  at  the  Battery  after 
they  leave  Ellis  Island.  On  the  right,  across  the 
North  river,  stretches  Jersey  City;  in  the  mid- 
dle, about  five  miles  away,  is  to  be  seen  the  beau- 
tiful wooded  slope  of  Staten  Island. 

We  have  now  reached  the  point  where  the 
North  and  East  rivers  join  their  currents.  Sail- 
ing on  we  pass,  at  Battery  park,  a  large  circular 
building,  now  an  aquarium,  which  was  formerly  a 
fort,  built  in  defense  of  the  city  in  1812.  In  1822 
Congress  ceded  it  to  the  city  and  it  became  a  place 
of  amusement,  known  as  Castle  Garden.  Here 
in  turn  were  entertained  Lafayette,  on  his  return 
to  America,  Presidents  Jackson,  Tyler,  and  Van 
Buren  and  the  Prince  of  Wales,  now  King  Ed- 
ward of  England. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  131 

Here,  in  1835,  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  inventor  of  the 
telegraph,  publicly  demonstrated  the  practicabil- 
ity of  controlling  the  electric  current. 

In  1850  Jenny  Lind,  the  Swedish  nightingale, 
made  her  American  debut  here,  under  the  man- 
agement of  P.  T.  Barnum.  She  gave  half  of 
the  profits  of  her  first  concert,  $12,500,  to  the 
charities  of  New  York. 

Five  years  later  Castle  Garden  became  an  em- 
igrant bureau.  One  can  imagine  the  millions 
who  poured  in  through  her  gates  to  America. 
In  1896  the  building  became  an  aquarium. 

We  must  continue  on  our  journey.  Near  at 
hand  on  the  left  is  Governor's  Island. 

It  is  now  six  o'clock.  We  see  the  flash  of  the 
sunset  gun  from  its  fort.  Immediately  following 
its  echo  is  the  lighting  up  of  Liberty's  torch.  This 
majestic  lady,  Madam  Liberty,  is  a  very  conspic- 
uous object,  one  and  a  fourth  miles  from  the  Bat- 
tery, on  Bedloe's  Island.  She  was  presented  to 
America  by  the  French  people  as  an  expression  of 
good  will.  Her  sculptor,  Bartholdi,  was  so  im- 
pressed with  the  eagerness  of  the  emigrants  for 
a  sight  of  land,  as  they  crowded  to  the  bow  of 
an  incoming  ship,  that  he  conceived  this  small 
island  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  as  the  ideal 
spot  to  place  the  figure,  even  while  his  work  was 
still  in  embryo.  So  here  the  Goddess  of  Liberty 
stands  at  the  threshold  of  the  new  world  with  up- 
lifted torch  lighting  the  way  to  freedom  and  op- 


132  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

portunity.  The  statue  is  admired  for  its  perfect 
proportions,  which  are  colossal.  The  torch  is  305 
feet  in  air,  the  figure  is  150  feet  high,  the  uplifted 
arm  is  42  feet.  The  model  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  sculptor's  mother,  and  the  statue  is  just- 
ly admired  for  the  calm  benevolence  of  its  coun- 
tenance. 

At  the  extreme  left,  across  the  east  river,  is 
Brooklyn,  with  its  gigantic  warehouses,  immense 
navy  yard,  and  many  church  steeples. 

There  is  no  place  in  the  world  where  one  can 
behold  such  an  ever-changing  and  diversified  ma- 
rine picture.  Yonder  are  anchored  several  war- 
ships; here  the  smartly  rigged  yachts  of  the 
Goulds,Vanderbilts  and  Morgans  lie  at  rest,  wait- 
ing for  their  owners'  whims,  to  come  aboard; 
there  the  heavy,  grotesque  floats,,  filled  with  la- 
borers, moving  slowly  by;  here  and  there  are 
noisy,  important  little  tug-boats  steaming  on  their 
way,  gliding  in  between  the  excursion  boats,  pic- 
nic barges  and  floating  hospitals  are  seen  at  inter- 
vals, gay  with  color,  and  bright  with  music, 
laughter  and  song.  Just  above  the  horizon  comes 
a  gigantic  ocean  liner,  moving  majestically  to- 
ward Ellis  Island.  As  we  pass  under  that  won- 
derful monument  to  mechanical  skill,  the  Brook- 
lyn bridge,  we  are  leaving  the  most  wonderful 
harbor  the  sun  ever  shone  upon. 

Sailing  along  the  East  river  we  see  the  oppos- 
ing shores  of  Manhattan,  Brooklyn,  blazoned 
with  immense  signs,  advertising  various  indus- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  133 

tries,  while  dotted  in  between  are  the  large  recre- 
ation piers  for  the  children  of  the  poor. 

In  sharp  contrast  one  sees  the  toiling  laborers 
on  the  shore  and  the  laughing,  frolicking  bathers 
in  the  water  below,  their  glistening  white  bodies 
outlined  against  the  gray  rocks  as  they  appear 
and  disappear  beneath  the  surface. 

BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND. 

Sailing  on  through  the  East  river  we  pass  un- 
der many  bridges  under  construction  out  through 
the  narrows  to  about  East  Forty-ninth  street. 
Here  we  first  obtain  a  view  of  the  famous  Black- 
well's  Island. 

This  place  lies  directly  east  of  Manhattan  Isl- 
and, and  extends  as  far  as  Eighty-fifth  Street.  It 
can  be  reached  from  the  mainland  by  a  row-boat. 
The  island  is  occupied  by  Government  buildings, 
and  contains  a  reform  school,  a  prison,  an  ine- 
briates' home,  a  hospital  for  consumptives  and  an 
insane  asylum. 

We  have  now  entered  the  Harlem  river,  which 
is  seven  miles  in  length  and  separates  Manhattan 
Island  from'  the  mainland.  It  connects  the  East 
river  and  the  Hudson  river  and  Long  Island 
Sound. 

By  cutting  through  a  small  canal  at  the  north 
end  of  Manhattan  an  easy  ship  approach  has 
been  made  without  going  through  the  dangerous 
waters  of  Hell  Gate. 


134  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

New  York  at  this  point  presents  the  appear- 
ance of  a  dense  sloping  wood,  dotted  with  mag- 
nificent structures  of  stone.  The  most  historic  of 
these  is  Jumel  Mansion,  on  Manhattan  Island. 
It  stands  on  the  crest  of  Washington  Heights, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-fifth  street.  It  was  built 
in  1758,  by  Rodger  Morris,  the  husband  of  Mary 
Phillips,  who  refused  the  hand  of  George  Wash- 
ington. During  the  revolution  Morris  espoused 
the  English  side,  and  was  compelled  to  flee  to 
Great  Britain.  The  property  was  confiscated 
and  was  occupied  by  Washington  in  1776,  during 
the  retreat  of  Americans  from  New  York. 

Nathan  Hale  was  sent  from  this  point  on  the 
mission  which  ended  in  his  death.  In  1790  George 
Washington,  now  the  president,  with  his  cab- 
inet, was  entertained  here. 

In  1810  John  Jacob  Astor  acquired  the  prop- 
erty, and  sold  it  to  a  wealthy  Frenchman,  Stephen 
Jumel.  After  her  husband's  death,  Madam  Ju- 
mel, in  1832,  married  the  famous  Aaron  Burr. 
She  soon  secured  a  divorce,  became  a  recluse  and 
lived  so,  for  thirty  years,  dying  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  house  in  1865.  It  was  acquired  by 
the  city  of  New  York  in  1892,  and  is  now  a  hall  of 
relics.  Among  these  are  still  preserved  thirteen 
ears  of  corn  which  Washington  tied  together, 
saying  as  he  did  so,  "As  the  ears  of  corn  would 
grow  and  multiply  under  cultivation  so  the  thir- 
teen colonies  would  increase  and  become  great 
under  a  good  government." 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  155 

At  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-fifth  street  is 
the  famous  High  Bridge,  which  carries  across  the 
Harlem  the  original  Croton  aqueducts.  There 
are  two  of  these.  The  larger  one  reaches  a  depth 
of  350  feet.  It  goes  under  the  Harlem  307  feet, 
through  solid  rock,  under  the  bed  of  the  river. 
It  rises  400  feet  in  a  perpendicular  shaft,  be- 
tween High  Bridge  and  Washington  Bridge.  It 
extends  from  Croton  lake  to  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fifth  street,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  and 
has  a  capacity  of  290,000,000  gallons  in  24  hours, 
and  supplies  Manhattan  Island  with  drinking 
water. 

It  is  the  longest  tunnel  in  the  world ;  took  five 
years  to  build  at  a  cost  of  $20,000,000. 

THE  HALL  OF  FAME 

Over  on  the  Brooklyn  side,  at  University 
Heights,  we  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  Hall  of  Fame 
for  great  Americans.  It  is  enclosed  in  the  cam- 
pus of  the  New  York  University,  and  was  a  gift 
to  this  institution  by  Miss  Helen  Gould.  Its  cost 
was  $250,000.  This  building  is  of  granite,  its  walls 
contain  150  panels,  in  which  will  be  set  bronze 
tablets  for  the  names  of  150  great  Americans. 
The  only  persons  eligible  must  be  American 
born,  and  must  be  deceased  at  least  ten  years. 
Twenty-nine  names  were  chosen  in  1900  and  in 
1902  there  were  twenty-one  others;  five  will  be 


136  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

added  every  five  years  until  the  one  hundred  and 
fifty  names  are  complete. 

With  each  name  inscribed  is  a  quotation  from 
the  speeches  or  writings  of  the  individual.  Among 
the  names  already  chosen  are :  Statesmen  and 
soldiers,  Washington,  Franklin,  Jefferson,  John 
Adams,  Webster,  Clay,  Lincoln,  Grant,  Farra- 
gut  and  Robert  E.  Lee. 

Scientists — Audubon,  Fulton,  Morse,  Whitney 
and  Gray. 

Teachers  and  Preachers,  Edwards,  Mann, 
Channing  and  Beecher. 

Authors,  Irving,  Emerson  and  Longfellow. 

Philanthropists — Gilbert  S.  Stewart,  George 
Peabody,  and  Peter  Cooper. 

Singularly  enough,  in  view  of  the  gift  of  the 
fair  donor,  her  father,  Jay  Gould,  was  disap- 
proved by  the  committee  for  enrollment,  which  is 
made  up  of  one  hundred  members,  comprising  the 
most  brilliant  men  of  New  York,  their  selection 
finally  to  be  approved  by  the  New  York  Uni- 
versity senate. 

These  places  which  I  have  described  are  well 
worth  a  visit,  of  from  one  to  six  hours  each. 

ON  THE  HUDSON 

Passing  around  in  a  northwesterly  direction 
into  a  small  canal,  a  drawbridge  is  opened  and 
we  sail  into  the  majestic  waters  of  the  Hudson. 
At  this  point  the  evidences  of  civilization  are  hid- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  137 

den  by  the  dense  shrubbery.  We  see  only  the 
broad  expanse  of  water,  the  closely  wooded  hill- 
sides and  the  blue  arch  of  the  sky.  We  do  not 
have  to  stretch  the  imagination  much  amidst  all 
this  silent  beauty,  to  go  back  a  few  hundred  years 
and  in  fancy  sail  with  Hendrick  Hudson  and  his 
crew;  but  soon  our  reverie  is  broken  by  a  view 
of  Fort  George,  the  once  famous  military  strong- 
hold, now  a  pleasure  resort  similar  to  Coney  Isl- 
and. 

Fort  George  lies  at  the  extreme  northern  ter- 
minus of  Manhattan  and  is  midway  between  the 
upper  eastern  driveway  of  the  Island,  known  as 
the  speedway  and  Riverside  drive  on  the  Hudson. 
These  two  driveways  make  the  entire  circle  of 
the  upper  half  of  Manhattan,  forming  one  of  the 
finest  race  courses  in  the  world,  shaded  all  along 
the  river  front  by  a  beautiful  park. 

We  arc  now  in  the  waters  of  the  Hudson.  To 
the  east  lies  Jersey  Heights  and  the  palisades, 
with  its  Fort  Lee  and  many  other  historical 
points.  To  our  west  lies  Manhattan  Island,  front- 
ed by  the  magnificent  summer  palaces  of  the  rich 
with  their  adjacent  parks  and  grounds. 

I  will  mention  some  of  the  most  interesting 
of  these. 

First,  the  home  of  C.  K.  G.  Billings,  the  Chi- 
cago millionaire,  sometimes  called  "Coal  Koke 
Billings."  Then  the  former  home  of  Boss  Tweed, 
the  first  political  boodler  who  was  incarcerated 
for  dishonesty  in  handling  public  funds.  The 


138  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

closing  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  a  larger 
house  than  this  on  the  Hudson,  Sing  Sing,  where 
he  occupied  a  small  cell. 

Adjoining  the  politician's  mansion  stands  the 
home  of  Aaron  Burr,  while  further  down  lies  the 
quaint  old  colonial  residence  formerly  occupied 
by  Alexander  Hamilton.  Directly  opposite  from 
the  Forty-second  street  ferry,  on  tlv  Jersey  coast, 
is  the  spot  where  that  memorable  duel  was  fought 
between  these  two  historic  personages.  Much 
has  been  said  about  the  fai^e  or  infamy  of  Aaron 
Burr.  A  most  interesting  view  of  his  life  can  be 
found  in  the  novel  entitled,  "The  Blenner  Has- 
sett." 

GRANT   MONUMENT. 

Just  above  Grant's  tomb  lies  the  American 
League  baseball  grounds,  near  which  the  great 
Columbia  University  rears  her  splendid  domes 
against  the  sky,  and  now  just  beyond  the  Uni- 
versity we  come  to  the  ascent  upon  which  rises 
the  tomb  of  General  Grant.  This  imposing  uon- 
ument  is  constructed  of  white  granite,  with  white 
marble  interior.  Surely  the  great  general,  whose 
wife  lies  beside  him,  has  a  most  beautiful  and 
peaceful  resting  place.  His  tomb  stands  upon  a 
hill  130  feet  above  the  river.  Through  the  open- 
ings of  the  great  forest  trees,  is  to  be  seen  the 
broad  expanse  of  the  Hudson,  dotted  here  and 
there  with  white  winged  sails.  On  the  opposite 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  139 

shores,  through  the  purple  haze,  stretching  away 
for  miles,  are  the  green  slopes  of  the  Palisades 
of  the  Jersey  coast. 

Above  the  portico,  on  a  panel  of  the  tomb 
where  lies  the  man  of  war,  are  inscribed  these 
words : 

"Let  us  have  peace." 

In  1797  the  site  of  Grant's  tomb  was  the  home 
of  George  Pollock,  and  was  called  Strawberry 
Hill.  Mr.  Pollock  failed,  and  was  forced  to  sell 
his  property  and  he  went  to  England,  leaving  be- 
hind, however,  a  tiny  m'onument  marking  the 
grave  of  his  favorite  child.  This  little  tomb  still 
stands.  The  inscription  has  been  blurred  by  the 
passing  of  a  hundred  years,  but  we  may  read  it 
still:  "Erected  to  the  memory  of  an  amiable 
child— St.  Clair  Pollock.  Died  15th  of  July,  1797, 
in  the  fifth  year  of  his  age." 

"Man  that  is  born  of  woman  is  of  a  few  years 
and  full  of  trouble." 

"He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower  and  is  cut 
down." 

"He  fleeth  like  a  shadow    and     continueth 
not" 

Strange  circumstances  of  chance  and  fate  that 
the  magnificent  tomb  shrining  a  nation's  pride, 
and  the  humble  stone  marking  the  grave  of  "an 
amiable  child"  should  stand  side  by  side ;  so  sug- 
gestive of  the  sharp  contrast  everywhere  to  be 
found  in  daily  life. 


140  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 


Riverside  Park,  which  extends  for  three  miles, 
from  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  to  Seventy- 
second  street,  is  called  the  most  magnificent  res- 
idential avenue  in  the  world.  It  would  be  beyond 
the  power  of  pen  to  describe  this  park,  for  which 
nature  has  done  so  much,  and  whose  natural  con- 
tours have  been  preserved,  with  many  of  the  trees 
of  "the  forest  primeval,"  for  it  is  a  succession  of 
picturesque  views  of  natural  beauty,  broken  by 
the  magnificent  handiwork  of  man.  At  the  end 
of  the  park,  where  stood  the  New  York  Orphans' 
asylum,  now  stands  the  most  expensive  and  glit- 
tering private  residence  in  America.  It  is  owned 
by  Charles  M.  Schwab,  who  paid  for  the  property 
$860,000.  His  mansion  was  built  at  a  cost  of  over 
$2,000,000.  Worthy  of  passing  notice  are  the 
Solders  and  Sailors  Monument  to  commemorate 
the  citizens  of  New  York  who  took  part  in  the 
Civil  War,  and  is  a  gift  of  the  city ;  also  a  statue 
of  Washington,  which  is  a  gift  of  the  school  chil- 
dren of  the  city. 

'Mid  all  the  palaces  of  commercial  kings,  art 
and  literature,  and  the  church  are  represented  by 
an  overwhelming  minority  in  the  homes  of  the 
late  Richard  Mansfield,  Julia  Marlowe,  James 
Gordon  Bennett  and  the  late  Bishop  Henry  C. 
Potter. 

Below  the  residential  portion  lying  along  the 
Hudson,  are  the  marts  and  ports  which  represent 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  141 

the  busy,  bustling  world  of  traffic,  travel  and 
trade. 

As  one  pier  looks  very  much  like  another  we 
will  pass  on  in  silence  until  we  again  reach 
Twenty-second  street. 

It  is  almost  dark,  for  the  long,  beautiful  twi- 
light that  heralds  approaching  evening  in  New 
York  is  giving  way  to  dusk,  and  lights  are  twin- 
kling like  millions  of  scintillating  stars  from  either 
shore  their  long  reflections  glancing,  spire-like, 
along  the  water,  which  is  made  active  by  myriad 
boats  constantly  passing  and  repassing,  making 
in  all  a  fairy-like  scene  that  surely  could  not  be 
surpassed  even  in  Venice. 

And  now  as  the  evening  has  come  we  will  go  to 
our  rest,  and  will  take  up  our  journeys  through 
interior  New  York  in  our  next  letter.  With  a 
good  old-fashioned  English  "Good-bye"  and  a 
German  "Auf  Wiederschen." 


A  Plea  for  the  Right. 

Editor  Truth: 

I  have  appreciated  the  many  kindly  words  from 
subscribers  of  Truth,  as  to  my  letters. 

Nothing  is  so  cheering  as  words  of  encourage- 
ment and  the  friendly  hand  clasp.  They  go  a  long 
way  toward  making  life  worth  while.  It  is,  of 
course,  an  impossibility  to  please  everybody,  es- 
pecially those  who  are  very  wise(  ?) — those  who 
are  annoyed  should  a  man  walk  in  any  other 
footsteps  but  those  they  would  dictate. 

I  once  heard  it  said  that  an  idiot  is  the  only  sure 
passenger  on  life's  ocean,  who  holds  a  non-forfeit- 
able  ticket  to  heaven.  Be  nothing,  say  nothing, 
do  nothing,  and  you  ride  in  a  safety  wagon. 

The  question  of  being  appreciated,  though  the 
heart  may  yearn  for  it,  should  cut  no  figure  in  the 
reckoning  of  a  helpful  life.  One  is  selfish  to  give 
and  expect  something  in  return  for  his  gift  and  it 
will  cause  many  disappointments. 

Do  the  wrork  and  sing  your  song,  let  the  conse- 
quence follow. 

A  dead  fish  can  float  down  stream  easy  enough, 
but  it  takes  a  live  one  to  go  against  the  current.  It 
requires  strength  and  courage. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  14J 

"Who  fails  to  sow  for  fear  that  h« 

Shall  not  be  here  to  reap, 
Must  lie  in  black  obscurity 
Through  all  his  final  sleep." 

If  not  for  the  few  the  world  would  have  re- 
mained in  brutal  ignorance  arid  mankind  would 
today  be  killing  each  other  with  big  sticks  and 
beating  torn  toms  for  their  music. 

The  man  who  has  no  aim  in  life,  no  higher  pur- 
pose than  to  float  down  stream,  to  live  the  animal 
life,  eat,  drink,  sleep  and  appease  the  passions, 
generally  becomes  an  unthinking  thing  to  stand 
and  snarl  at  the  onward  march  of  his  fellows. 

In  this  unhappy  world  there  is  plenty  of  work 
and  a  place  for  each  and  all  and  as  soon  as  the 
souls  of  men  evolute  to  the  plains  of  light,  they 
will  realize  and  appreciate  this  glorious  truth. 

Then  the  human  mind  will  be  "in  tune  with  the 
Infinite,"  lifting  humanity  toward  higher  and 
nobler  ideals  and  thus  make  of  this  world  a  re- 
fined and  beautiful  home  where  men  shall  dwell 
together,  willingly  and  lovingly,  linked  by  the 
golden  chain  of  fraternal  love. 

To  be  generous  and  give  your  best  efforts,  is 
sipping  the  very  cream  of  creation.  It  is  no  sac- 
rifice, it  is  joy. 

It  isn't  a  very  long  journey  from  the  cradle  and 
the  crooning  song,  to  the  coffin  and  its  requiem. 
In  a  few  years  we  will  all  be  gone,  and  we  may 
rest  assured,  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  the 
individual  will  be  forgotten.  The  singer  passes 


144  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

away — only  the  song  remains  to  bless  humanity. 

If  I  can  bring  one  human  being  to  see  the 
nobler  view  of  life,  lift  him  from  the  plain  of  a 
snarling  growler  into  the  sunlight  of  reason  and 
justice,  where  he  will  ever  sing  the  words :  "Lead 
kindly  light,  lead  thou  me  on."  Then,  though 
without  recognition,  I  shall  die  content.  The  help- 
ful influence  of  today  will  make  an  impress  on 
eternity. 

The  present  civilization  is  in  its  infancy — or 
its  boyhood.  Ignorance,  selfishness  and  brutal 
mastery  are  the  controlling  forces  amongst  men. 
The  late  Robert  G.  Ingersoll  once  wrote  me  say- 
ing, "There  is  no  grander  work  than  to  keep 
alive  the  memories  of  the  good  and  the  true."  I 
agree  with  him,  but  I  would  say  further,  there 
is  no  grander  work  in  all  the  world  than  to  de- 
fend or  rescue  the  good  name  of  an  individual  or 
of  a  people  from  the  attacks  of  blind  followers, 
of  a  howling,  unthinking  populace.  This  is  my 
work  wherever  and  whenever  an  occasion  pre- 
sents itself. 

The  few  liberals  of  the  world  have  battled  for 
"the  under  dog  in  the  fight"  and  it  has  been 
a  fight  all  across  the  ages.  Christians,  pagans,  in- 
fidels, Catholics,  Quakers,  Methodists,  Atheists, 
Dowieites,  Presbyterians,  Christian  Scientists  and, 
o  my !  the  poor  "Mormons,"  all  have  been  flayed 
by  the  mob. 

Not  only  have  creeds,  societies  and  individuals 
killed  and  been  killed,  through  illiberal  thought, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  145 

but  race  prejudice  has  played  havoc  with  the  same 
spirit.  The  Jew  has  had  an  awful  dose  at  the 
hands  of  Christians,  and  he  is  still  in  it,  and  as 
they  kill  him,  the  cry  is,  "It's  only  a  Jew."  The 
Irish,  French,  Italian,  and  from  now  on  God  help 
the  poor  negro ! 

Nearly  every  race  has  had  a  taste  of  this  dev- 
ilish hate  and  in  turn  when  in  power  have  tor- 
tured in  worse  manner  than  the  former,  and  with 
all  of  our  churches  and  refining  societies  there 
seems  to  be  no  abatement  to  this  devilish  spirit  of 
bigotry.  The  next  to  defend  may  be  a  race  of 
people  or  it  may  be  a  body  of  religionists,  I  do 
not  know  which,  but  this  I  do  know,  that  until 
there  is  a  higher  civilization,  a  nobler  manhood, 
a  race  of  thinkers  in  place  of  howlers,  there 
is  plenty  of  work  for  the  few,  in  aiming  to  keep 
races  of  people  and  religious  bodies  from  abusing 
and  destroying  each  other.  I  know  that  out  of 
chaotic  thought  have  grown  the  beauties  of  the 
present  status  of  intellectual  civilization.  I  know 
that  this  murderous  clamor  and  abuse  has  not 
only  caused  untold  horrible  suffering,  amongst  the 
children  of  men,  but  it  has  retarded  the  power  of 
reason  and  the  growth  of  spiritual — humane — 
human  life. 

Intellectual,  manly,  spiritual  life  is  a  matter  of 
development.  Educational  institutions,  churches 
and  societies  are  rungs  in  the  ladder  leading  to 
a  brighter  light  and  to  higher  forms.  Each  indi- 
vidual must  decide  for  himself  his  place  on  the 

11 


146  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

ladder,  or  power  of  climbing.  Each  man's  life 
tells  the  story  of  his  soul  development,  and  when 
civilized  he  will  help  humanity  on  its  upward  way. 

"God's  plans  like  lilies  pure  and  white  unfold — 
We  must  not  tear  the  close-shut  leaves  apart, 
Time  will  reveal  the  calyxes  of  gold." 

Hon.  C.  C.  Goodwin,  in  Goodwin's  Weekly  of 
issue  of  July  7th,  1906,  in  an  article,  "Not 
an  Exlusive  Court,"  aims  to  prove  that  the  Smoot 
case  would  have  been  decided  long  before  if  not 
for  partisan  reasons.  He  cites  a  number  of  in- 
stances, especially  the  Tilden  and  Hayes  election. 
He  shows  where  honor  and  justice  were  sacrificed 
on  the  altar  of  partisanship.  Men,  afraid  of  their 
jobs!  Think  of  it.  Intelligent  men  selling  out 
everything  that  makes  us  worthy  of  the  name 
man.  I  do  not  doubt  Mr.  Goodwin's  conclusions, 
but  such  stories  should  bring  a  blush  of  shame 
to  both  robber  and  robbed,  for  such  is  a  dishonor 
to  the  flag,  and  an  impeachment  upon  our  boasted 
civilization. 

I  would  urge  young  men  to  be  careful  of  a 
clamorous  crowd.  A  crowd  is  seldom  right  and 
often  they  commit  crimes  and  do  wrongs  that 
take  centuries  to  correct.  When  reason  is  de- 
throned and  passion  holds  sway,  untold  suffering 
follows  in  its  wake.  The  Hon.  Reed  Smoot  and 
family  have  been  the  target  for  a  clamorous  crowd 
for  several  years,  and  the  barking  is  still  on.  Yet 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  147 

Reed  Smoot  has  injured  no  one,  broken  no  law ; 
he  is  a  splendid  man,  and  an  American  citizen 
of  the  first  order. 

There  is  no  more  sense  or  reason  or  argument 
in  fighting  the  "Mormon"  church  than  there 
would  be  in  fighting  any  other  denomination.  It's 
a  religious  war  with  some  mean  politics  thrown 
in.  Politicians,  such  as  Mr.  Goodwin  describes, 
have  jumped  into  the  wagon  and  for  their  own 
selfish  gains  are  turning  their  eyes  heavenward 
like  dying  goslins,  and  are  shouting  long  and 
loud.  Many  of  the  shouters  have  put  on  the  robes 
of  Christ  and  so  the  multitude  of  unthinking  peo- 
ple join  in  the  cry  and  echo  it  from  shore  to 
shore,  Down  with  the  "Mormons!"  "Crucify! 
Crucify!" 

It  is  easy  to  call  names. 

The  gentle  Quakers  were  called  ugly  names; 
they  were  branded  upon  their  foreheads;  holes 
were  burned  through  their  tongues;  they  were 
tortured  by  every  devilish  instrument  that  could  be 
devised  by  the  cunning,  devilish,  depraved  mind ! 
Yet  John  G.  Whittier,  the  Quaker  poet,  whose 
soul  burst  into  song  and  the  sweet  influence  of  his 
gentle  folk,  still  live  and  cast  a  divine  radiance 
over  poor  quarreling  humanity. 

The  founding  of  every  church,  or  a  religious 
body,  or  of  any  organization,  has  to  meet  with 
opposition  by  the  already  established  institutions. 
Every  organization  claims  a  copyright.  So  each 
one  gets  up  and  dances  a  war  dance  in  opposition 


148  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

to  the  new,  which  is  generally  an  improvement  on 
the  old. 

Then  again,  the  scoffer  can  always  find  some 
ground  for  derision,  which  generally  leads  to 
abuse  and  villification. 

The  simple  faith  and  evening  prayer  of  a 
child  is  food  for  a  scoffer.  The  devotion  and 
prayers  of  a  mother.  The  sacredness  of  home, 
the  ceremonies  of  a  funeral.  Poets  and  poems  and 
all  beautiful  things  may  be  food  for  ridicule  for 
men  and  women  whose  minds  never  enter  the 
realms  of  imagination  or  of  the  spiritual. 

Idle  gossip  is  the  main  cause  of  all  the  trouble 
in  the  world.  "Mother  Grundy"  made  Uncle  Sam 
spend  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  an  at- 
tempt to  expel  Mr.  Smoot  from  the  Senate  for 
no  cause. 

Promises  and  ceremonies  are  but  leaves ;  deeds 
are  fruits.  It  is  the  manhood  within  the  man 
that  counts,  not  the  trappings,  not  the  symbols-, 
not  the  medals  on  his  breast.  We  quarrel  on 
symbols,  and  signs,  and  uncertainties,  not  on  pure 
religion.  There  is  but  one  religion,  which  is  cen- 
tered in  the  words,  "Love  and  Hope." 

"Master,  which  is  the  great  commandment  in 
the  law  ?  Jesus  said  unto  him,  'Thou  shalt  love 
the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul  and  with  all  thy  mind/  This  is  the  first 
and  great  commandment.  And  the  second  is  like 
unto  it:  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thy- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  149 

self.'     On  these  two  commandments  hang  all  the 
law  and  the  prophets." 

If  the  Mormons  are  so  bad,  take  Tennyson's 
advice : 

"It  is  better  to  fight  for  the  good  than  to  rail  at  the  ill. 
Soiling  another  will  never  make  one  clean." 

The  question  whether  this  continuous  slander- 
ous clamor  retards  the  growth  of  our  city  and 
state,  is  secondary.  Right  is  right,  and  wrong  is 
no  man's  right.  The  liar,  the  thief,  the  slanderer, 
is  a  criminal  in  himself.  The  sin  is  in  the  doing, 
not  in  the  being  caught.  We  need,  in  America, 
men,  thinkers,  not  chatterers !  The  people  must  be 
taught  to  live  from  within,  not  from  without — 
true  to  the  inner  self. 

The  flag  of  our  nation  is  a  symbol  of  liberty, 
mental  liberty.  This  thought  launched  it  forth. 
Every  man  has  an  equal  right  to  worship  his  God 
according  to  his  own  ideas  and  conscience.  If 
you  think  him  a  fool,  remember  he  has  that  right, 
especially  so,  if  you  claim  the  right  to  be  a  judge. 
The  man  who  will  not  assist  his  neighbor  in  re- 
taining his  right  to  liberty  of  thought,  commits 
a  sin  against  the  Constitution,  and  "whatever  a 
man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap." 

If  our  senators  were  men  when  they  entered 
the  Senate,  they  should  at  least  cease  to  be  sen- 
ators rather  than  cease  to  be  men.  A  warrior's 
grave  is  no  disgrace  to  a  ir>an  who  fought  and  like 


150  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

a  soldier  fell,  nor  to  the  politician  who  battled 
honestly  in  the  arena.  No  man  is  bad  because  a 
dog  barks  at  him.  The  courageous  men  of  all 
ages  have  been  barked  at.  There  is  barely  an  ideal 
worthy  of  emulation  that  was  not  barked  at, 
pulled  to  pieces  on  the  rack,  burned  at  the  stake, 
shot  to  death,  or  crucified  on  the  cross. 

Stop  abusing  the  "Mormons."  They  have  been 
lied  about  long  enough.  Do  something  worth 
while.  You'll  feel  better  and  be  better ;  give  health 
instead  of  pain,  sunshine  in  place  of  clouds. 

The  people  everywhere  need  help.  Churches 
are  empty.  People  have  lost  confidence  in  nearly 
everything  and  everybody.  They  are  drifting, 
drifting  out  into  seas  of  doubt.  Dissipation  is 
fastening  its  fangs  on  our  rising  generations.  We 
have  but  few  teachers  to  guide  their  footsteps 
onto  higher  plains. 

The  world  is  waiting — ready  for  some  great 
soul  to  call  them  up  to  a  higher  life,  out  of  dark- 
ness into  light. 

People  and  children  must  be  taught  honesty, 
thoughtfulness,  equal  rights,  reverence  for  old 
age,  obedience  to  law,  and  to  cultivate  an  hon- 
est, clean  individuality,  backed  by  both  heart  and 
brain.  We  need  more  Robert  Colliers,  more  Ed- 
ward Everett  Hales,  more  Elmer  Goshens,  more 
Eugene  V.  Debbs  and  Wm.  J.  Browns,  more 
earnest  souls  who  will  work  for  the  weal  of  man, 
which  will  then  mean  the  glory  of  God. 

Never  in  human  history  has  there  been  such  a 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  151 

demand  for  pure,  earnest,  honest,  reasoning  men, 
as  now ;  men  who  are  unselfish  and  fearless ;  who 
are  ready  to  lay  away  ambition  and  fortune  for 
the  welfare  and  intellectual  growth  and  happi- 
ness of  mankind. 

Progression  is  salvation.     Non-progression  is 
damnation.    We  must  go  onward. 


On  the  Wing. 

NEW  YORK. 

Such  constant  demands  have  been  made  upon 
my  time,  through  the  interest  aroused  everywhere 
by  the  Smoot  investigation  in  particular,  and 
"Mormonism"  in  general,  that  I  have  had  no 
leisures  to  continue  the  weekly  letters  I  had  prom- 
ised myself  to  send  to  my  friends  in  Utah.  It  has 
been  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  me  that  de- 
mands for  my  talks  on  Utah  have  come  from  the 
various  large  eastern  cities  unsought,  and  is  an 
indication  that  the  United  States  are  awakening 
to  the  real  meaning  of  the  word  liberty,  as  they 
no  longer  listen  to  but  one  side  of  a  question 
but  insist  on  hearing  the  other. 

That  you  may  know  the  kindly  spirit  manifest- 
ed toward  our  people,  in  the  invitations  I  have  re- 
ceived to  lecture  on  Utah,  I  enclose  a  letter  from 
General  Wm.  Birney  of  Washington,  D.  C,  where 
I  am  to  speak  Sunday,  April  22. 

If  you  think  it  will  be  interesting  to  your  read- 
ers you  are  at  liberty  to  publish  it. 

RELIGIOUS  LIBERTY 

WASHINGTON. 
Mr.  Meakin: 

DEAR  SIR  : — Mr.  Smoot  has  just  given  me  your 
address  and  suggested  that  you  might  be  willing 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  153 

to  address  the  Secular  League  of  this  city,  on  one 
of  the  remaining  Sunday  afternoons  of  the  cur- 
rent month.  We  had  invited  Mr.  Smoot  and  he 
had  given  us  hope  that  he  would  lecture  to  us 
after  the  decision  of  the  senate  in  his  case.  As  we 
cannot  expect  that  this  month  and  our  winter 
session  ends  with  April,  we  are  obliged  to  look 
elsewhere. 

The  league  stands  for  religious  liberty  and 
thinks  the  expulsion  of  Senator  Smoot  would  be 
unconstitutional  and  would  lead  to  religious  per- 
secution. A  stronger  case  than  that  against  Mr. 
Smoot  might  be  made  against  any  Roman  Cath- 
olic member  of  the  senate. 

You  might  choose  your  own  subject,  and  deal 
with  it  in  your  own  way,  leaving  us  free  to  differ 
with  you. 

Mr.  David  Eccles,  of  the  government  printing 
office,  is  the  president  of  the  league.     He  will 
write  you  on  this  subject.    To  avoid  delay,  write 
now.    I  am  of  the  executive  committee. 
Very  truly  yours, 

WILLIAM  BIRNEY. 

IN   NEW  ENGLAND 

I  like  New  England,  and  I  like  the  New  Eng- 
land people.  They  have  a  charm  all  their  own, 
somewhat  reminiscent  of  their  pilgrim  ancestry. 
They  have  that  English  reserve  that  strikes  the 
casual  observer  as  conventionality  or  coldness. 
This,  however,  is  only  superficial,  for  once  break- 


154  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

ing  through  the  ice  of  this  reserve,  one  finds  them 
hospitable,  tender  and  friendly. 

We  have  grown  accustomed  to  thinking  of  the 
westerner,  as  broad  and  unsuspicious,  of  the  south 
as  chivalrous  and  hospitable,  and  the  east  and 
north,  as  it  is  called  here,  as  narrow  and  conven- 
tional. The  easterner  is  harder  to  approach,  more 
wrapped  up  in  his  own  little  world,  more  of  a 
scholar  than  his  younger  brothers,  but  his  heart  is 
just  as  warm,  his  hand  clasp  as  genuine,  and  his 
hospitality  as  free  when  once  you  get  acquainted. 
He  is  not  impulsive,  but  is  a  reasoner,  and  once 
convince  him  of  your  reliability,  and  he  is  your 
friend  for  life.  The  more  I  travel  the  move  I  am 
convinced  that  "People  are  very  much  like  folks 
wherever  you  go." 

EXCHANGE  OF  VALUES 

It  has  struck  me  often,  what  a  grand  exchange 
of  values  it  would  be  if  some  of  the  buoyancy  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  west  could  be  infused  into  the 
east  and  some  of  the  culture  and  thoughtfulness 
of  the  east  could  be  transmitted  to  the  west,  but  I 
suppose  it  is  true  of  civilization  as  it  is  of  people, 
the  young  are  vital,  the  old  are  philosophic  and 
so  the  east  has  its  Emerson,  its  Longfellow,  its 
universities,  its  monuments  and  its  memories,  its 
tranquil  scenery  and  its  quiet  people,  while  the 
west  has  its  vigorous  manhood,  and  its  vast,  un- 
developed resources. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  155 

Some  weeks  ago  I  lectured  at  Philadelphia,  and 
last  Sunday  was  requested  to  repeat  it  before  the 
Friendship  Liberal  club,  so  I  again  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  a  visit  to  the  Quaker  City. 

CITIZENS  NOT  ASLEEP 

Philadelphia  is  quaint,  quiet  and  picturesque, 
but  anyone  who  thinks  its  citizens  are  asleep  or 
takes  stock  in  the  old  graveyard  story  about  the 
"City  of  the  Dead,"  had  better  wake  up  them- 
selves. 

The  early  Quakers,  no  doubt,  were  a  strong  in- 
fluence in  molding  the  characteristic  citizens  of 
this  historic  city.  One  occasionally  sees  the  sweet 
faced,  gentlemannered  Quakeress  in  her  simple 
but  not  unbeautiful  dress.  I  caught  the  passing 
thought  that  it  was  a  pity  woman's  street  attire 
had  not  been  permanently  affected  by  her  influ- 
ence, for  there  is  an  elegance  in  their  severe  neat- 
ness that  could  well  be  emulated  by  the  bedecked 
and  befrilled  woman  of  today. 

Philadelphia  is  so  full  of  historic  memories  that 
to  attempt  more  than  a  passing  idea  of  them 
would  be  impossible. 

I  took  off  my  hat  in  reverence  as  I  crossed  the 
threshold  of  the  old  house  where  Betsy  Ross 
worked  at  that  first  symbol  of  our  national  lib- 
erty— the  Stars  and  Stripes.  I  also  saw  the  old 
Liberty  bell  at  Independence  hall.  The  bell  is  old 
and  cracked — protected  by  a  glass  case.  The 


156  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

thought  would  come  that  we  need  to  construct  a 
new  liberty  bell,  silver-toned  and  pure,  that  will 
not  need  protection,  and  at  its  clarion  call,  man 
will  hasten  to  regenerate  the  old  spirit  of  liberty 
which  gave  us  a  free  country,  freed  the  slave  and 
is  now  crying  out  for  more  mental  freedom. 

It  is  saddening  that  in  this  very  town  where 
men  fought  and  died  for  freedom  the  shadows 
of  prejudice  and  superstition  still  bind  shackles  on 
the  minds  of  men,  holding  them  prisoners  to  ig- 
norant malice  and  blinding  them  to  justice. 

GIRARD  COLLEGE 

The  beautiful  Girard  college  annually  shelters 
1,600  boys,  and  instructs  them  how  to  gain  a  lib- 
eral education,  for  to  quote  from  a  former  letter 
of  mine : 

"It  is  a  creedless  but  not  a  Godless  institution." 
Yet  the  home  of  this  beautiful  seat  of  learning 
is  a  hotbed  of  almost  brutal  prejudice  against 
their  unoffending  Utah  brothers,  whom  for  the 
most  part  they  have  never  seen  and  know  but 
little  about.  In  justice  I  will  say,  however,  the 
people  are  not  to  blame,  as  a  horde  of  so-called 
reformers  have  made  this  their  vantage  point,  and 
not  having  the  wit  or  originality  to  invent  some 
cure  for  the  many  errors  of  our  present  infant 
civilization,  they  must  wage  war  against  some- 
thing to  make  a  living,  and  as  Utah  is  a  long  way 
off  and  the  average  Philadelphian  doesn't  travel 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  157 

much,  it  is  safe  to  howl  against  the  politics  and 
morals  of  the  "Mormons.'* 

The  philosophy  of  the  gentle  Nazarine  we  hope 
may  become  possible  throughout  Christendom. 
When  we  grow  more  civilized  there  will  not  be 
danger  should  we  turn  the  other  cheek.  But  un- 
til this  stage  is  reached  it  behooves  Utah  to  be  less 
meek  and  fight  a  little  for  that  liberty  and  justice 
which  comes  so  tardily. 

I  have  a  pride  in  knowing  that  I  have  lifted 
my  voice  to  defend  mental-religious  liberty,  and 
though  it  probably  could  be  likened  to  a  tiny  grain 
of  sand  on  the  sea  shore,  I  can  only  hope  that  I 
have  sown  a  few  seeds  of  kindness  that  my  hear- 
ers will  nurture  and  in  their  turn  they  will  preach 
the  gospel  of  love. 

"For  the  pleasures  of  the  many 

May  be  ofttimes  traced  to  one, 

As  the  hand  that  plants  an  acorn 

Shelters  armies  from  the  sun." 

PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

My  trip  to  Providence  was  intended  for  a  pleas- 
urable rest  after  several  months  of  constant 
speaking. 

I  went  there  in  response  to  an  invitation  from 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  LeVine.  I  had  met  Mr. 
LeVine  in  Salt  Lake  City  during  his  visit  to  Utah 
last  summer,  where  he  was  looking  after  his  min- 
ing interests. 


158  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

I  found  him  to  be  a  cordial  gentleman  and  our 
acquaintance  has  deepened  into  a  friendship. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  speaking  of  this  large- 
hearted  man,  because  while  not  interested  in  the 
"Mormon"  belief  to  any  extent,  he  admires  the 
people  of  our  state  and  extends  a  hearty  welcome 
and  every  hospitality  to  the  "Mormon"  elders. 

The  week  end  generally  finds  several  of  our 
"Mormon"  boys  at  his  home  enjoying  a  good  din- 
ner. 

I  took  my  journey  by  boat.  These  elegantly 
appointed  boats  can  only  be  described  as  floating 
palaces.  The  grand  salon  is  decorated  with  fresh- 
ly cut  flowers  and  provided  with  most  excellent 
band  music  and  all  of  the  best  periodicals  are  at 
the  disposal  of  the  guests.  The  state  rooms  are 
finely  equipped  and  the  dining  room  is  unsur- 
passed by  any  of  our  leading  hotels.  After  a  trip 
of  about  19  hours  I  arrived  at  Providence,  wel- 
comed at  the  pier  by  Mr.  LeVine. 

In  the  afternoon  I  went  to  Mr.  LeVine's  hand- 
somely appointed  offices  in  the  Fletcher  building, 
where  I  met  a  number  of  liberal-minded  men. 
Utah  was  discussed  and  quite  unexpectedly  I  was 
asked  to  tell  my  story  about  Utah  publically.  It 
being  left  with  me  to  appoint  the  night,  and  they 
would  pay  the  rent.  It  was  arranged  that  it 
should  be  the  following  Sunday  evening. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  159 

SPOKE  TO  LARGE  AUDIENCE 

A  good-sized  audience  greeted  me  at  the  Ar- 
canum hall,  my  hearers  were  most  attentive,  and 
the  Evening  Bulletin  of  the  next  issue  gave  a 
very  fair  report,  which  I  note  you  have  already 
published. 

I  mention  in  passing  that  the  reporter  was  an 
absolute  stranger  to  me.  I  did  not  even  meet  him. 
I  mention  this  because  it  is  pleasant  to  find  some 
fair  and  unprejudiced  people. 

Strange  things  will  happen,  sometim'es  pleasant 
ones.  At  the  close  of  my  meeting  a  gentleman 
stepped  up  with  extended  hand  saying,  "Well, 
John,  don't  you  know  me?"  After  a  moment's 
hesitation  I  did  remembsr  him  as  Tom  Moore 
(not  the  poet,  but  a  chum  of  my  boyhood  days, 
who  came  over  from  England  in  the  same  ship 
with  me.)  The  renewing  of  this  old  friendship 
made  my  stay  in  Providence  doubly  pleasant. 

Providence  is  a  splendid  city,  but  time  and 
space  forbid  my  mentioning  its  numerous  attrac- 
tive features.  It  is  a  large  manufacturing  center, 
one  of  the  amazing  industries  to  me  was  that  of 
making  shoe  laces.  Seven  immense  shoe  lace  fac- 
tories are  located  here  and  these  work  24  hours 
per  day. 

How  few  of  us  realize  that  such  a  trifling,  but 
necessary  thing  as  a  shoe  string  should  give 
wealth  to  a  few,  and  bread  and  butter  to  thou- 
sands. 


160  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

A  friend  of  mine  with  whom  I  was  driving 
pointed  out  these  factories  to  me.  I  remarked 
that  I  should  have  supposed  that  one  factory 
would  supply  the  whole  world  with  shoe  strings, 
whereupon  my  friend  remarked. 

"You  forget  that  little  feet  are  coming  into  the 
world  all  the  time." 

AT  BOSTON. 

Before  returning  to  New  York  I  visited  Boston, 
which  city  is  only  an  hour's  ride  from  Providence. 

I  went  there  in  response  to  an  invitation  to  de- 
liver my  lecture,  "Utah  and  the  Mormons,"  at 
which  time  about  400  people  were  present. 

The  close  and  respectful  attention  I  received  in 
Boston  only  verified  what  has  long  been  my  pri- 
vate opinion,  that  educated  people  are  the  most 
fair  in  their  judgment  and  most  apt  to  view  a 
question  from  all  sides  in  an  unprejudiced  man- 
ner. 

Several  days  later  I  was  asked  to  join  in  the 
discussion  at  a  dinner  held  by  the  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury club,  the  topic  being  technical  education. 
The  subject  as  developed  was  handled  by  several 
master  minds  as  to  what  higher  education  means 
and  the  methods  obtained  in  Germany,  France 
and  other  civilized  countries. 

I  was  allowed  ten  minutes  on  education  in  Utah. 
I  gave  a  brief  outline  of  the  free  public  school 
system,  universities  and  colleges. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  161 

I  was  glad  to  have  this  opportunity  to  bring  to 
the  attention  of  some  real  thinkers  Utah's  educa- 
tional status.  It  is  so  often  the  prevailing  idea 
that  the  "Mormons"  are  enemies  to  secular  knowl- 
edge. 

On  my  return  to  Providence,  where  I  was  to 
give  another  talk,  I  stayed  over  at  Worcester, 
Mass.,  for  I  had  promised  Mr.  John  Q.  Critch- 
low  to  meet  his  friend,  Ex-Mayor  Edward  F. 
Fletcher,  and  for  this  purpose  I  carried  a  letter 
of  introduction. 

HELD  HOME  MEETINGS 

It  had  been  my  intention  to  make  a  brief  call 
on  Mr.  Fletcher  and  take  the  next  train  to  Prov- 
idence, but  he  not  only  pressed  me  to  remain  over 
night,  but  insisted  upon  it.  And  arranged  a  gath- 
ering at  his  home  for  the  evening. 

During  the  afternoon  I  was  introduced  to  sev- 
eral splendid  men,  among  them  Col.  Wm.  A.  Gile, 
who  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  lawyers  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  is  a  brother-in-law  to  Mrs.  Geo. 
A.  Lowe  and  a  friend  to  Utah.  I  also  met  G. 
Stanley  Hall,  president  of  Qarke  university; 
State  Senator  Parker  and  others.  We  also  vis- 
ited the  home  of  the  late  Senator  Hoar,  whose 
memory  is  revered  throughout  the  state.  I  sat  in 
the  old  oak  chair,  which  belonged  to  him  for  50 
years  and  wrote  at  his  old  desk.  We  next  visited 
the  new  city  hall,  the  pride  of  Worcester,  a  marble 
dream  of  architectural  beauty. 
12 


162  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

In  the  center  of  the  first  step  of  the  staircase 
leading  to  the  main  entrance  is  a  five-pointed  star, 
which  marks  the  spot  where  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  was  first  read. 

It  is  justly  considered  a  sacred  spot,  for  here 
the  immortal  words  of  that  document  of  liberty 
were  sent  vibrating  into  space. 

We  now  went  to  Mr.  Fletcher's  elegant  home 
for  dinner,  where  I  met  his  gracious  wife  and  tal- 
ented son  Raymond. 

So  warm  a  friendship  sprung  up  between  this 
promising  youth  and  myself  that  he  said  at  part- 
ing: "I  feel  I  shall  miss  you  like  one  of  my  best 
friends,"  and  upon  my  return  to  New  York  I 
found  a  letter  from  him  awaiting  me. 

AN  ENJOYABLE  OCCASION 

In  the  evening  I  had  the  honor  of  talking  be- 
fore about  forty  intelligent  people,  guests  of  Mr. 
Fletcher.  I  talked  for  half  an  hour  on  Utah,  at 
their  request,  after  which  we  were  delightfully 
entertained  with  music  by  Miss  Nina  Fletcher, 
who  is  a  skilled  violinist.  Later  I  gave  a  num- 
ber of  my  favorite  poems. 

My  visit  to  Worcester  will  always  be  held  as 
one  of  my  pleasantest  memories.  When  I  return 
to  Salt  Lake  I  shall  thank  Mr.  Critchlow,  our 
townsman,  very  earnestly  for  his  introduction. 

Before  leaving  Worcester  I  was  interviewed 
by  a  Mr.  John  Curry,  representing  the  Worces- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  163 

ter  Telegram.  His  report  was  so  truthful,  and 
he  stated  so  exactly  my  words  without  garbling 
them  that  I  was  not  surprised  to  learn  later  that 
his  paper  is  considered  one  of  the  most  conserv- 
ative in  New  England. 

NEW  YORK 

I  find  myself  again  in  busy,  bustling,  pleasure- 
loving  New  York. 

New  York  is  charming,  elusive  and  fascinating. 
Some  one  has  likened  her  to  a  variable  woman, 
and  the  phrase  suits  admirably,  for  her  lighter 
moods,  but  mingling  with  her  laughter  and  jest, 
is  the  din  of  trade,  the  clatter  and  clang  of  traffic, 
the  noise  of  street  calls,  and  behind  it  all  the  sob 
of  the  tired  city's  heart,  that  groans  over  the  trag- 
ic contrasts  of  life.  New  York  is  overshadowed 
with  gloom  over  the  horrible  disaster  on  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  and  that  "touch  of  nature  which  makes 
the  whole  world  kin"  has  made  her  brush  aside 
all  her  frivolity  if  only  for  the  present  moment, 
and  she  is  extending  tender,  helpful  hands  as 
proof  of  her  humanity  toward  the  sufferers  of 
the  Golden  West. 


Phases  of  Human  Life. 

NEW  YORK. 

In  traveling  from  place  to  place  I  am  so  often 
struck  with  the  varying  phases  of  human  life! 
Each  section  of  country  through  which  one 
passes  seeming  to  have  its  men  and  women  who 
partake  strongly  of  their  surroundings.  It  has 
occurred  to  me  that  a  letter  describing  people  I 
have  met  on  the  trains  might  be  both  interesting 
and  amusing  to  the  readers  of  the  News. 

I  cannot  see  how  any  person  possessing  facul- 
ties of  observation  can  fail  to  enjoy  themselves  in 
this  many-sided  world  of  ours;  for  humanity, 
working  at  the  mighty  loom  of  fate  always  crosses 
the  darker  threads  of  tragedy  with  the  golden 
strands  of  comedy,  and  the  tired  sobs  of  the 
weavers  are  always  controlled  by  dear,  restful 
laughter. 

My  leave-taking  of  Salt  Lake  some  six  weeks 
ago  was  of  a  saddening  nature,  as  I  drove  direct- 
ly to  the  station  after  speaking  at  the  funeral  of 
an  old  friend  of  mine.  My  heart  was  also  heavy 
from  saying  good-bye  to  home  and  loved  ones. 
Hence,  after  taking  the  train  I  was  rather  occu- 
pied with  my  own  thoughts  and  failed  to  take 
any  account  of  my  fellow-passengers  until  I  sud- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  165 

denly  found  myself  at  Grand  Junction  station. 
The  only  passengers  entering  our  Pullman  at  this 
point  were  a  pretty  little  dark-eyed  woman  and 
her  two  bright-looking  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl. 
They  entered  their  compartments  across  the  aisle 
from  mine. 

Directly  facing  me  sat  a  tall,  lank,  good-na- 
tured-looking man  of  the  Sol  Smith  Russell  type. 
We  passed  a  compliment  or  two,  he  remarked  on 
the  inconvenience  of  upper  berths  and  crowded 
cars  and  then  settled  back  comfortably  to  his  mag- 
azine. I  turned  my  attention  to  the  scenery  and 
my  own  thoughts  and  was  soon  slumbering  peace- 
fully. I  was  awakened  from  my  pleasant  doze 
by  an  unearthly  yell.  I  had  a  confusion  of 
thoughts,  the  uppermost  one  being,  There  has 
been  an  accident. 

I  came  to  quickly,  for  a  large  white  rat  bounded 
out  of  the  coat  of  my  tall  friend,  who  was  ges- 
ticulating wildly,  and  landed  in  my  lap.  I  never 
did  like  rats,  so  naturally  it  was  my  next  move. 
Soon  every  person  in  the  car  was  on  the  move. 

After  the  little  boy  and  girl  had  successfully 
captured  the  rat,  and  the  laugh  and  the  noise  had 
subsided,  it  developed  that  the  little  thing  was  a 
pet,  which  the  children  were  taking  with  them 
to  see  "grandma,"  in  Omaha,  and  as  each  person 
busied  himself  with  cards  or  newspaper,  I  know 
that  he  inwardly  echoed  my  exclamation,  "Oh, 
rats!" 


166  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

The  incident  opened  up  a  conversation  between 
my  long  friend  and  myself.  He  turned  out  a 
Mr.  O.  B.  Watson  from  Connecticut,  who  had 
been  traveling  in  California  for  his  health.  "Yes- 
terday," he  remarked,  "I  spent  an  interesting  day 
driving  around  Salt  Lake/' 

I  was  curious  to  know  just  what  he  had  heard 
regarding  our  state.  I  simply  told  him  I  was  a 
f raternalist ;  all  men  were  my  brothers. 

He  had  heard  the  story  of  six  wives  living  in 
one  little  row  of  houses,  wives  and  houses  all 
owned  by  one  man. 

He  knew  the  Amelia  palace  story  and  many 
other  "hack"  stories,  but  the  driver  gave  him  a 
new  one — that  is,  new  to  me — about  Brigham 
Young,  with  extra  trimmings.  I  will  relate  it  as 
nearly  as  I  can  remember  in  his  language : 

"I  saw  Maude  Adams  while  I  was  in  New 
York  a  few  years  ago  in  the  'Little  Minister/ 
I  understand  she  uses  her  mothers's  maiden  name 
and  that  her  birth-place  was  Salt  Lake  City. 
Judge  my  surprise  at  being  told  something  which 
no  doubt  Miss  Adams  conceals  from  the  public 
at  large,  but  which  is  well  known  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  She  is  one  of  the  many  children  of  the  late 
President  Brigham  Young,  and  her  mother  was 
number  27,  who ,  with  her  little  one  in  arms,  left 
when  Brigham  Young  married  Amelia  Folsom, 
the  latter  becoming  his  favorite  wife,  a  thing  not 
to  be  endured  by  Maude's  mother,  who  had  for- 
merly held  this  position.  I  understand  that  Brig- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  167 

ham  was  a  patron  of  the  arts  and  built  the  Salt 
Lake  Theatre.  This,  no  doubt,  accounts  for 
Maude  Adams'  histrionic  ability." 

SET  THE  MAN  RIGHT 

Shades  of  James  H  .Kiskadden !  I  felt  it  my  duty 
as  an  old  friend  of  "Jim"  and  of  Aseneth  (Miss 
Annie  Adams)  to  do  a  little  missionary  work,  for 
I  believe  in  giving  credit  where  credit  is  due,  so 
I  handed  the  gentleman  my  card  and  gave  him 
facts  not  only  about  "Utah's  Maude,"  but  about 
our  state  in  general  and  Brigham  Young  in  par- 
ticular. 

The  gentleman  seemed  disappointed  when  I 
told  him  that  Brigham  Young  only  had  nineteen 
wives.  "Oh,  is  that  all,"  he  said,  doubtfully.  I 
produced  the  picture  of  the  Mrs.  Youngs  as  proof. 
He  returned  the  compliment  by  showing  me  the 
inevitable  picture  of  a  "Mormon"  family,  with 
its  squabbling  women  and  one  little  man. 

I  said,  "My  picture  is  fact,  yours  is  fancy,  and 
quite  as  false  as  the  stories  you  were  told  and 
have  repeated."  I  am  now  wondering  which  set 
of  stories  Mr.  Watson  is  repeating  in  Connecticut, 
mine  or  the  hack  driver's. 

IN  DENVER 

I  stayed  over  in  Denver  about  ten  days,  deliv- 
ering, while  there,  my  lecture,  "Utah  and  the 


168  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Mormons,"  to  a  large  and  seemingly  interested 
audience.  After  leaving  Denver  I  looked  around 
the  car  and  saw  no  congenial  spirit;  most  of  the 
faces  were  beginning  to  take  on  the  conventional, 
formal  characteristics  that  mark  all  the  faces  east 
of  Chicago.  I  felt  rather  lonely  for  association 
with  my  kind  is  quite  a  necessary  part  of  my  en- 
joyment while  traveling. 

Directly  in  front  of  me  sat  a  gentleman  read- 
ing Hubbard's  "Philistine."  I  knew  a  man 
couldn't  read  Hubbard  and  not  be  companionable, 
so  I  ventured  a  "I  beg  your  pardon."  I  was  not 
disappointed  in  my  man,  and  a  most  pleasant 
hour  followed. 

The  gentleman  was  a  resident  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 
and  when  I  informed  him  that  Salt  Lake  City  was 
my  home,  he  said,  "Oh,  indeed.  Do  you  know  I 
suppose  it's  very  silly  of  me,  but  I've  always  con- 
sidered Utah  the  synonym  for  Mormon,  and  Mor- 
mon the  synonym  for  polygamy.  Now  I  suppose, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  there  are  those  who  are  Mor- 
mons who  are  not  polygamists." 

QUESTION  OF  POLYGAMY 

I  replied,  "Quite  so,  and  probably  you  will  find 
more  polygamy  to  the  square  inch  in  any  other 
city  of  the  same  size  than  you  will  find  to  the 
square  mile  in  Salt  Lake  City." 

We  then  discussed  Utah  socially,  ethically  and 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  169 

politically  with  the  result  that  the  gentleman  of- 
fered to  help  make  it  possible  for  me  to  express 
myself  publicly  on  Utah  should  I  ever  visit  Al- 
bany. 

During  our  conversation  we  had  for  an  accom- 
paniment some  most  excellent  music  in  the  form 
of  whistling.  At  first  we  paid  no  attention  to 
this;  gradually  it  pleasantly  obtruded  itself  upon 
our  notice.  We  looked  about  the  car,  but  failed 
to  locate  the  whistler.  After  a  time,  as  the  sound 
continued,  my  gaze  caught  the  sweet  face  of  a  lit- 
tle old  lady  looking  very  intently  at  the  passing 
scenery  and  her  pursed-up  lips  identified  her  as 
the  musician.  She  kept  up  her  sweet  melodies 
until  the  dusk  had  fallen,  and  seemed  all  uncon- 
scious of  listeners.  Her  repertoire  included  "The 
Wearing  of  the  Green,"  "Annie  Laurie,"  "Home, 
Sweet  Home,"  and  "Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee." 

ANOTHER  STORY  OF  UTAH. 

Last  summer  in  an  observation  car  en  route 
from  Kansas  City  to  Chicago  I  was  a  silent  lis- 
tener to  a  story  about  Utah  which  proved  the  old 
adage,  "Listeners  never  hear  any  good  of  them- 
selves ;"  furthermore,  it  was  an  illustration  of  the 
fact  that  a  traveler  must  be  very  careful  in  relat- 
ing any  incident  about  places  he  has  visited  or 
people  he  has  seen,  lest  his  accuracy  and  truthful- 
ness be  questioned  by  other  travelers. 

But  to  return  to  the  observation  car:     it  was 


170  LEAVES  Or  TRUTH 

filled  with  an  unusually  intelligent  class  of  peo- 
ple, and  from  chance  remarks  made  here  and 
there  I  gathered  that  they  were  tourists  from 
various  parts  of  the  county. 

One  man,  educated,  evidently  a  gentleman,  was 
more  talkative  than  the  others.  He  was  the  usual 
type  of  a  traveling  salesman  we  immediately  dub 
a  "drummer."  I  was  sitting  to  his  left.  He  was 
conversing  with  a  gentleman  opposite  him.  As 
this  conversation  was  personal  in  character,  I  paid 
no  attention  to  it  until  I  heard  him  say,  "I'm  from 
Chicago,  and  I've  just  returned  from  Utah,  the 
Mormon  country,  and  I  want  to  tell  you  that's  a 
good  place  to  keep  away  from,  for  if  you  wish  to 
settle  there  and  you  are  not  a  Mormon,  your  vote 
is  worthless,  because  they  run  things  politically; 
then  if  you  wish  to  go  there  for  business  you 
haven't  a  ghost  of  a  chance,  because  a  few  men 
and  a  Church  organization,  known  as  Zion's  Co- 
operative Mercantile  Institution,  run  the  whole 
business." 

By  this  time  he  had  raised  his  voice  and  had  the 
attention  of  the  whole  crowd. 

As  I  listened  I  thought  of  Utah's  Commercial 
club,  the  Real  Estate  association  and  other  organ- 
izations for  the  development  of  trade  and  com- 
merce. I  longed  for  Fisher  Harris  and  Orlando 
W.  Powers,  for  with  their  eloquent  tongues  they 
might  have  dispelled  the  conviction  which  was 
beginning  to  settle  upon  the  minds  of  all  present 
that  Utah  was  no  place  to  live  or  invest  money. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  171 

I  casually  noticed  my  friend  wore  a  K.  of  P. 
badge  similar  to  one  I  wear,  as  a  charm  on  my 
watch  chain,  and  it  passed  through  my  mind: 
"Brother,  we  are  both  pledged  to  tell  the  truth." 

Story  after  story  followed,  humorous  and  hor- 
rible, all  vilifying  in  their  character. 

I  couldn't  stand  it  any  longer,  so  very  unob- 
trusively holding  up  my  K.  of  P.  badge,  I  said, 
quietly:  "What  you  are  saying  isn't  true,  'old 
man;'  it  isn't  true."  To  which  he  replied,  "Oh, 
yes,  it  is !" 

"I  say  it  isn't." 

"I  tell  you  I've  been  there." 

"So  have  I." 

"I  tried  to  sell  goods  all  over  Utah,  even  went 
down  to  that  jumping-off  place — St.  George." 

"I  also  have  traveled  all  over  Utah  as  a  sales- 
man— even  down  to  St.  George,  only  I  sold  my 
goods,  one  of  my  wares  being  a  non-Mormon 
publication.  While  thus  employed  I  was  enter- 
tained in  Mormon  homes,  and  I  know  the  people." 

"But  I  was  there  six  weeks,  and  know  all  about 
it." 

"Well,  I  know  a  little  about  it,  too ;  I've  been 
there  forty  years." 

A  general  laugh  followed,  and  one  gentleman 
spoke  up  and  said :  "Speak  a  little  louder  and  tell 
us  more  about  Utah." 

There  was  a  chorus  of  "Yes,  do,"  so  I  had  the 
novel  experience  of  addressing  an  audience  on  a 


172  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

moving  train.     Opening  with     the    well-known 
lines : 

"Breathes  there  the  man  with  soul  so  dead 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said, 
This  is  my  own,  my  native  land?" 

For  while  Utah  is  not  my  native  land,  I  found 
my  wife  there,  and  I  have  five  sons  born  there, 
who,  if  they  desire  to  grow  up  with  our  growing 
state,  I  wish  to  help  in  common  with  all  other 
sons  of  Utah,  to  have  every  possible  chance  un- 
hindered by  the  tongue  of  slander  and  ridicule. 

ONE  VOICE  IN  DEFENSE 

So  I  lifted  my  one  voice  before  that  small  au- 
dience, as  I  always  will  lift  it  wherever  I  go  to 
defend  an  honest,  aspiring  state. 

When  I  adopted  America  as  my  country,  I 
adopted  it  because  I  was  born  free  and  believed 
in  freedom  and  equality  embodied  in  its  Consti- 
tution. And  I  appeal  to  all  those  citizens  of 
Utah  who  really  love  their  home  to  help  free  Utah 
from  the  bondage  of  prejudice  and  misunder- 
standing by  proudly  telling  the  truth  at  all  times 
and  everywhere. 

I  had  proposed  writing  this  letter  in  a  lighter 
vein,  but  have  gotten  upon  my  old  hobby  horse, 
liberty  and  freedom  for  every  creed  and  every 
race,  and  so  space  forbids  my  telling  the  amus- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  173 

ing  stories  I  had  meant  to  tell,  for  in  the  words 
of  Dr.  Van  Dyke : 

"My  country!  'tis  of  thee, 
Sweet  land  of  liberty, 
Of  thee  I  sing. 

"I  love  thy  inland  seas, 
Thy  capes  and  giant  trees, 

Thy  rolling  plain; 
Thy  canyons  wild  and  deep, 
Thy  rocky  mountains  steep, 
Thy  prairies'  boundless  sweep, 
Thy   glorious   main. 

"Thy  dome,  thy  silvery  strands, 
Thy  golden  gate  that  stands 

Afront  the  west; 
Thy  sweet  and  crystal  air, 
Thy  sunlight  everywhere, 
Oh,  land  beyond  compare — 

I  love  thee  best." 


Beautiful  Handiwork  of  Nature. 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 

Since  my  last  letter  I  have  traveled  many  miles, 
conversed  with  scores  of  people,  gave  my  lecture 
on  "Utah"  before  several  large  audiences,  besides 
entertaining  nearly  every  evening  in  the  homes 
of  new  and  old  friends.  I  wish  that  I  could  ac- 
complish more  than  I  do,  in  the  brief  space  of 
each  day,  for  my  friends  would  then  read  more 
of  my  experiences  and  wanderings  in  the  east. 

Before  turning  my  face  westward  I  went  to 
Norwich,  Conn.  I  visited  with  the  Hon.  James 
M.  Parker  and  his  scholarly  wife,  in  their  pala- 
tial home  in  one  of  the  most  picturesque  valleys  in 
the  state  of  Connecticut.  Just  a  few  miles  from 
the  city  of  Norwich. 

At  this  season  of  the  year  all  nature  smiles  with 
beauty  all  around.  She  has  put  on  her  spring 
coat  of  variegated  colors,  which  covers  every 
iook  and  corner,  hill  and  dale.  I  grow  more  in- 
terested every  day  in  the  beauties  of  our  coun- 
try. People  should  see  the  world  and  its  mag- 
nificent wonders.  They  would  become  more  gen- 
erous, more  charitable  and  broader-minded. 

I  have  looked  in  wonderment  at  the  handiwork 
of  both  God  and  man  in  the  east.  While  the 
westerners  are  urging  the  easterners  to  see  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  175 

wonders  of  the  west,  the  easterners  should  urge 
the  westerners  to  see  some  of  the  wonders  of  the 
east. 

IN   NEW  ENGLAND 

In  the  New  England  states  and  in  Ohio  as  I 
have  beheld  the  beautiful  valleys,  beautiful  lakes, 
the  forests  of  elms  and  maple,  the  waving  grasses 
and  beautiful  flowers  and  have  listened  to  the 
music  of  the  birds  and  the  song  of  the  brook,  as 
I  have  watched  the  great  rivers  join  their  forces 
and  roll  on  towards  the  sea,  I  exclaimed  with  the 
poet: 

"Great,  wide,  beautiful,  wonderful  world 
With  the  wonderful  waters  around  you  curled, 
With  the  wonderful  grass  upon  your  breast 
World,  you  are  grandly  and  beautifully  dressed/ 

"The  wonderful  air  is  over  me, 
The  wonderful  wind  is  shaking  the  tree, 
It  walks  on  the  waters  and  whirls  the  mills 
And  talks  to  itself  on  the  top  of  the  hills. 

"You  friendly  earth,  how  far  do  you  go 
With  the  wheat  fields  that  nod  and  rivers  that  flow, 
With  cities  and  gardens,  and  cliffs  and  isles, 
And  people  upon  you  for  thousands  of  miles. 

"Ah,  you  are  so  great  and  I  am  so  small, 
I  tremble  to  think  of  you,  world,  at  all ; 
And  yet  as  I  said  my  prayers  today 
A  whisper  within  me  seemed  to  say 
You  are  more  than  the  earth,  though  you  seem  such  a 

dot, 
You  can  love  and  think,  and  the  earth  can  not." 


176  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Then  as  I  would  ride  into  a  little  town  and  sec 
dilapidated  human  lives  and  read  their  narrow 
souls,  realize  their  bigotry  and  unkindness  to  their 
fellow  men,  the  words  of  Dr.  Watts  forced  them- 
selves upon  my  mind,  and  I  said :  Oh,  my  coun- 
try, "where  every  prospect  pleases,  and  only  man 
is  vile." 

Extirpate  low  selfishness  and  bigotry  from  the 
minds  of  men  and  we  will  not  then  live  in  a  semi- 
hell,  but  to  the  contrary,  in  the  full  realization  of 
a  heaven  on  earth. 

Heaven  is  within  us  and  about  us,  if  we  are 
only  civilized  high  enough  to  see  it,  experience  it, 
and  enjoy  it. 

I  returned  to  New  York  for  a  couple  of  days 
from  Norwich,  and  bade  my  friends  good-bye. 

I  left  them  midst  the  whirl  and  bustle  of  New 
York  life,  and  as  I  crossed  the  Hudson  river,  the 
tall  spires  and  the  sky-scraping  roofs  of  New 
York  were  scarcely  seen,  through  a  tear. 

WORK  IN  BUFFALO 

Buffalo  was  my  next  stop,  thriving,  clean,  up- 
to-date,  on  the  go,  but  not  "at  a  break-neck 
speed."  Buffalo  is  a  fraternal  city.  The  people 
are  hospitable,  courteous.  I  met  many  of  them 
and  I  enjoyed  my  visit  beyond  expression  in 
words. 

In  all  the  towns  and  cities  I  have  visited  I  have 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  177 

dispelled  the  clouds  of  ignorance  as  to  our  state 
and  its  people,  by  the  sunlight  of  truth. 

The  prejudice  is  amazing,  in  many  instances 
silly,  vile,  murderous. 

There  are  a  score  of  men  and  women  clothed 
in  the  robes  of  Christianity,  continually  going  up 
and  down  as  tale-bearers  about  Utah  and  the 
"Mormons,"  but  withal,  some  of  the  people  are 
doing  some  thinking  for  themselves,  and  surely 
ere  long 

"We  shall  know  each  other  better 
When  the  mists  have  rolled  away." 

CLEVELAND,   OHIO 

I  came  here,  and  like  at  other  places  it  is  a  task 
to  tear  myself  away.  Requests  from  personal 
friends  and  from  "Mormon"  friends  keep  com- 
ing for  me  to  visit  their  town  or  city.  On  Sun- 
day evening,  May  13,  I  spoke  to  a  fair-sized  au- 
dience in  the  Pythian  Temple,  in  Cleveland.  The 
night  was  one  of  the  stormiest  of  the  springtime. 
It  rained  in  torrents,  which  was  detrimental  to 
our  meeting,  but  I  have  had  engagements  all 
along  the  line,  and  I  have  removed  some  of  the 
mists  that  befog  the  minds  of  the  people. 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  some  of  the 
brainiest  people  in  the  east.  I  must  not  forget 
to  mention  a  dear  old  lady  here,  who  has  two  sis- 
ters in  Utah,  and  whose  doors  are  always  swung 
13 


178  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

wide  open  for  Utahns — Mrs.  H.  E.  Harrison. 
Her  heart  overflows  with  kindness,  and  many  a 
wanderer  from  his  mountain  home  finds  a  haven 
of  rest  under  her  hospitable  roof. 

During  my  visit  our  conversation  drifted  to 
home  and  loved  ones  both  in  Utah  and  in  far-off 
England.  She  had  read  the  romance  of  Mrs. 
Meakin  and  my  life  published  in  Cleveland  Plain 
Dealer  last  September,  and  was  anxious  to  know 
more.  I  found  that  the  good  lady  came  from 
Winwick,  ten  miles  from  Raunds,  my  birthplace 
in  old  England. 

She  had  listened  when  a  girl  to  my  father,  and 
also  to  Robert  W.  Wolcott,  my  wife's  father, 
preach  in  Bedfordshire  fifty  years  ago. 

In  imagination  she  wandered  back  and  so  did 
I,  to  the  babbling  brooks  of  childhood,  and  we 
lived  the  old  days  over  again. 

Tom  Moore  sang  a  sweet  song  in  these  words : 

"When  time,  who  steals  our  years  away, 

Shall  steal  our  pleasures  too, 
The  memory  of  the  past  will  stay 
And  half  its  joys  renew." 

A  reception  was  tendered  me  at  this  lady's 
beautiful  home.  The  evening  will  ever  linger 
like  sweet  chimes  in  memory's  treasury  of  the 
human  mind. 

Besides  a  goodly  number  of  strangers,  all  the 
Utah  sophomores  were  present,  and  in  closing 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  179 

"we  sang  the  song  of  'Home,  Sweet  Home/  the 
song  that  reached  our  hearts." 

SHARON   CENTER,   OHIO 

By  a  pressing  invitation  from  C.  M.  Johnson 
and  other  citizens,  I  went  to  Sharon  Center  and 
gave  my  lecture  in  the  town  hall  on  Sunday,  May 
20.  The  hall  was  filled  with  the  leading  people 
of  Medina  county. 

One  of  the  ministers  was  broad-minded  enough 
to  announce  the  meeting  from'  the  pulpit.  The 
gentleman  was  a  Lutheran  and  his  action  was 
appreciated.  It  came  like  a  ray  of  light  from  a 
dark  and  clouded  sky. 

C.  M.  Johnson,  an  old  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen,  was  the  chairman,  and  he  was  not  afraid 
to  act. 

It  had  been  noised  about  among  the  country 
people  that  my  lecture  was  in  favor  of  the  "Mor- 
mons." Why,  the  very  idea  of  such  a  thing  was 
enough  to  cause  a  commotion,  it  being  the  first 
time  a  square  deal  was  ever  given  the  "Mor- 
mons." 

In  opening  I  assured  the  people  that  many 
speakers  and  thinkers  had  been  unwelcome 
guests,  but  in  after  years  it  had  been  proven  that 
they  were  right  in  their  life's  labors.  I  said  in 
opening : 

Miss  Susan  B.  Anthony,  at  her  last  public 
meeting,  was  pelted  by  the  audience  with  roses, 


180  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

and  at  the  close  of  her  lecture  she  stood  knee 
deep  in  beautiful  flowers.  The  lady  was  over- 
come by  such  loving  enthusiasm,  and  with  tears 
running  down  her  cheeks  she  turned  to  the  chair- 
man and  said: 

"My  dear,  what  a  difference;  what  a  change! 
How  beautiful  this  is!  Why,  don't  you  know, 
sixty  years  ago  in  this  same  town,  the  audience 
pelted  me  with  eggs,  and  I  gave  the  same  story 
today  as  I  did  then." 

SIXTY  YEARS'  WORK 

Yes,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  took  sixty  years 
to  break  down  the  barriers  of  bigotry  and  change 
conditions  from  knee  deep  in  eggs  to  knee  deep 
in  roses !  I  neither  fear  the  eggs  nor  expect  the 
flowers.  All  I  ask  is  a  respectful  hearing.  You 
may  draw  your  own  conclusions  when  I  have 
given  you  my  story. 

The  meeting  was  one  of  my  best  and  most  suc- 
cessful during  my  eastern  tour. 

The  people  are  anxious  to  learn  the  truth; 
they  have  never  heard  any  good  of  Utah  and  the 
"Mormons;"  it  is  unpopular,  and  clamor  with- 
out knowledge  is  rampant,  but  some  are  be- 
ginning to  realize  that  they  have  been  hornswog- 
gled  by  people  who  ought  to  have  known  better 
and  done  better. 

I  have  entertained  over  one  hundred  of  the 
people  in  talks  on  Utah  and  the  "Mormons,"  and 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  181 

in  song  and  story,  at  the  country  home  of  the 
prince  of  men,  Cyrus  M.  Johnson. 

I  am  now  a  welcome  guest  at  Sharon  Center, 
Ohio,  so  will  any  honest  Utah  man  or  woman 
be,  should  they  pass  that  way. 

"The  mob,  its  wrath,  its  aid, 

Learn  gently  to  despise. 
At  first  they  cannonade, 
At  length  they  canonize." 


A  Word  to  Mrs.  Schoff. 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  Congress  of  Mothers'  Clubs  by  the 
lecturer,  Mr.  Meakin,  and  is  self-explanatory: 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH, 

March  14,  1905. 
Mrs.  Frederick  Schoff, 

President  of  Mothers'  Clubs, 
Washington,  D.  C., 

DEAR  MADAM  :  I  trust  you  will  pardon  me  for 
any  seeming  boldness  in  addressing  you.  I  read 
this  morning  at  the  breakfast  table  your  address 
before  the  Mothers'  Congress  in  Washington,  in 
which  you  speak  so  harshly  about  the  Utah  peo- 
ple, the  "Mormons."  I  realize  my  unpopular  po- 
sition in  speaking  of  a  people  who  are  under  con- 
demnation by  public  clamor,  which  you  seem  to 
understand,  you  having  expressed  a  thought  of 
not  having  confidence  in  the  masses  as  to  the  use 
of  their  own  brains,  etc. 

You  say,  "It  is  to  be  feared  that,  in  the  course 
of  a  century,  some  gifted  man  like  Paul,  some 
splendid  orator  who  will  be  able,  by  his  eloquence, 
to  attract  crowds  of  the  thousands  who  are  ever- 
ready  to  hear  and  be  carried  away  by  the  "sound- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  183 

ing  brass  and  tinkling  cymbal  of  sparkling  ora- 
tory, may  command  a  hearing,  may  succeed  in 
breathing  a  new  life  into  this  modern  Moham- 
medanism and  make  the  name  of  the  martyred 
Joseph  ring  as  loud  and  stir  the  souls  of  men  as 
much  as  the  mighty  name  of  'Christ  itself.' J; 

My  dear  lady,  it  is  justice  we  are  seeking,  is 
it  not? 

Should  some  mighty  Paul,  or  any  grand  orator, 
stir  the  souls  of  men  as  much  so  as  the  mighty 
name  of  Christ,  would  he  not  through  his  mighty 
efforts  and  power  be  entitled  to  an  honest  credit? 
I  know  people  are  led  and  have  to  be,  some  of 
them  easily  so,  and  if  your  fears  are  well  founded 
is  there  not  a  danger  that  these  masses  may  be 
led  by  some  Paul,  without  reason,  against  the 
"Mormons,"  as  well  as  for  the  "Mormons?" 

People  are  not  all  fools,  and  if  they  are  foolish 
they  have  a  right  to  religious  freedom'  in  the 
"land  of  the  free."  Do  you  think  it  fair  or  just  to 
the  masses  to  say  that  they  could  be  swayed  from 
one  side  to  the  other  without  any  thought  on  the 
subject  for  themselves,  by  Paul  or  any  other 
mighty  orator  whose  words  might  be  insincere 
and  thus  make  them  "sounding  brass  and  tink- 
ling cymbals?" 

Insincerity  is  the  only  basis  for  "sounding 
brass  and  tinkling  cymbals."  Then  again,  let  me 
ask,  who  shall  be  the  judge?  What  appears  to 
one  as  truth  may  seem  an  error  to  another. 

If  the  swaying  of  the  masses  rests  entirely  with 


184  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

the  orators,  then  a  doubt  may  exist  as  to  whether 
Paul's  orations  were  true,  or  "sounding  brass  and 
tinkling  cymbals."  Paul  was  persecuted  and  mis- 
understood, and  many  others  have  been  all  along 
the  line,  down  to  Joseph  Smith. 

Christ,  the  Nazarene,  was  misunderstood,  and 
crucified.  Read  chapter  15  of  St.  Mark,  for  a 
telling  story  on  public  clamor.  They  crucified 
Him,  but  the  Truth  was  not  destroyed. 

Truth  lives,  error  dies.  Clamor  may  kill  the 
man  or  the  people,  but  whatever  truth  and  good- 
ness they  breathed  live  on,  and  although  buried 
for  the  time  beneath  the  stone  of  bigotry,  sooner 
or  later  justice  will  roll  away  the  stone. 

I  know  the  "Mormons"  have  been  and  are  mis- 
understood. Is  there  not  a  chance  that  the  ora- 
tions of  today  against  the  "Mormons"  may  be 
"sounding  brass  and  tinkling  cymbals  ?" 

If  one  desires  to  do  good  in  this  world,  the 
only  way  is  to  keep  one's  soul  pure  and  honor- 
bright;  to  reason  well  and  be  sincere,  then  give 
whatever  message  you  may  have,  in  firmness  and 
kindness,  loud  and  long.  It  is  not  well  to  con- 
tinually rail  at  others'  faults ;  sometimes  what  we 
in  our  weak  judgment  think  a  fault  may  be  a 
sublime  truth  or  a  virtue.  History's  pages  bear 
me  out  in  this.  "Judge  not  that  you  be  not 
judged." 

I  have  but  little  to  say  about  polygamy,  only 
this.  The  entanglements  of  polygamy  are  dying 
away,  and  will  soon  be  a  thing  of  the  past.  This 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  185 

question  is  being  righted  in  an  honorable,  humane 
way.    It's  the  only  way. 

I  have  made  somewhat  of  a  study  of  the  vari- 
ous creeds  and  religions  of  today,  and  I  assure 
you  that  the  "Mormon"  faith  appeals  to  me  as 
uplifting,  pure  and  true  as  any  other,  and  a  little 
more  so  than  some. 

I  believe,  however,  I  have  not  been  "carried 
away  by  the  sounding  brass  and  tinkling  cymbals 
of  sparkling  oratory." 

I  believe  in  kindness,  not  abuse;  in  reason,  not 
bigotry;  in  thoughtful  speech,  not  in  howling 
clamor.  I  am. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

JOHN  P.  MEAKIN. 

A   MEDICAL  STORY 

We  cannot  all  be  alike  nor  see  alike.  What  is 
one  man's  relish  may  be  another  man's  finish. 

I  recall  the  story  of  a  German  being  very  ill 
with  typhoid  fever.  A  physician  was  called.  He 
prescribed  the  usual  treatment — "nothing  to  eat," 
etc. — and  cautioned  the  nurse  to  be  particular 
about  this.  During  the  night  the  nurse  fell  into 
a  sweet  sleep,  and  while  in  this  happy  state,  the 
patient  stealthily  made  his  way  to  the  pantry  and 
ate  nearly  half  a  gallon  of  sauer  kraut.  He  re- 
turned to  his  bed  and  rested  well.  The  doctor, 
making  his  morning  call,  was  surprised  to  find 
the  German  in  a  normal  condition.  The  happy 


186  LEAVES  O  FTRUTH 

man  told  his  joy  to  the  physician,  and,  in  won- 
derment, the  doctor  held  up  his  hands  and  ex- 
claimed: "I  have  made  a  great  medical  discov- 
ery." In  a  few  days  the  same  doctor  was  called 
to  the  bedside  of  an  Irishman,  who  was  ill  with 
the  same  dread  disease.  He  then  prescribed  his 
new  discovery — sauer  kraut.  In  the  morning  the 
doctor  called  and  found  the  Irishman  dead. 


The  Pioneers. 

EULOGY  OF  THE  PATHFINDERS 
Special  to  the  News. 

IONA,  IDA.,  July  24,  1906. 

Practically  the  entire  population  of  this  dis- 
trict is  assembled  here  today  to  celebrate  Pioneer 
Day.  Idaho  Falls  is  joining  with  lona  in  the  cel- 
ebration and  a  great  day  is  the  result.  Aside 
from'  the  interesting  program  of  sports  and  gen- 
eral festivities  the  address  of  John  P.  Meakin  of 
Salt  Lake  was  one  of  the  features. 

Mr.  Meakin's  address  was  well  received,  and 
when  he  concluded  he  was  warmly  congratu- 
lated upon  his  effort.  His  address  in  full  was  as 
follows : 

Fifty-nine  years  ago  today  an  exiled  band  of 
"Mormon"  pioneers  found  themselves  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Great  Salt  Lake.  These  people  were 
very  poor,  with  no  railroads  or  commerce  to  aid 
them,  surrounded  by  savage  tribes  of  Indians,  in 
a  wilderness  of  uncultivated  plains  or  forests.  By 
their  own  self-reliance  and  untiring  energy,  they 
have  made  of  the  wilderness  a  blooming  garden, 
which  is  our  home,  and  this  in  fifty-nine  years. 

You  must  remember  that  these  advancements 


188  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

and  wonderful  achievements  have  been  accom- 
plished with  a  clamorous,  howling  populace  con- 
tinually at  their  heels,  barking  and  snapping  at 
every  move  they  made. 

I  have  noticed  that  all  movements  for  good 
arise  out  of  opposition,  repression  and  rebellion. 

A  NATION'S  STRENGTH 

Glancing  down  the  vista  of  countless  ages  we 
are  faced  with  the  incontrovertable  fact  that  the 
religious  principle  is  the  nucleus  of  a  nation's 
strength,  and  that  with  the  destruction  of  a  pre- 
vailing belief  comes  the  destruction  of  the  pre- 
vailing power,  even  as  the  breaking  away  from 
the  forms  and  traditions  of  the  past  signifies  a 
new  birth  of  a  nation  or  sect. 

"In  the  vista  of  ages  vanished 

In  the  tears  and  groans  and  strife — 
In  the  turbulent  pulse  of  the  cosmos — 

In  the  panting  toil  of  life. 
In  the  chaos  all  but  formless 

In  the  cloud  that  holds  a  rod, 
In  the  dreary  tread  of  ages, 

I  behold  the  hand  of  God."  , 

To  my  mind  all  the  achievements  of  men  are 
but  scant  fragments  of  the  great  stupendous 
whole,  for  all  through  nature  there  is  a  contin- 
uous line  from  dense  ignorance  up  to  intelligence 
and  wisdom. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  189 


VAIN  SHOW  OF  POWER 

At  the  time  when  Christianity  was  first  intro- 
duced, the  Epicurean  adage,  "Let  us  eat,  drink 
and  be  merry,  for  tomorrow  we  die,"  was  at  its 
height.  All  the  conquests  of  Alexander,  Julius 
Caesar  and  others  were  for  gain  only.  No  at- 
tempt had  been  made  to  better  the  individual  man. 
Thus  they  have  all  passed  away,  leaving  behind 
them  only  the  memory  of  a  splendid  pomp,  a 
vain  show  of  power,  as  hollow  and  false  as  the 
conquests  they  commemorate.  All  conquests  for 
conquest's  sake  alone  end  in  defeat. 

EARLY  HISTORY 

The  Roman  Empire,  under  Augustus,  was  the 
culmination  of  Pagan  civilization.  About  this 
time  the  lowly  Nazarene  was  born  and  the  Chris- 
tian era,  which  was  to  revolutionize  the  Euro- 
pean world,  began.  It  taught  morality  instead  of 
immorality;  humbleness  instead  of  arrogance; 
love  and  forgiveness  instead  of  hate  and  revenge ; 
peace  instead  of  war,  and  the  belief  in  the  one  and 
only  God  in  place  of  the  myriad  hosts  of  gods. 
It  scorned  all  pomp  and  show  in  its  religious  cer- 
emonies, together  with  the  pride  of  place,  and 
subtleties  of  ambitious  politicians.  It  gave  to  the 
slave  the  same  religious  liberty  and  recognition 
from  his  God  as  the  master  to  whom  he  daily  bent 


190  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

the  suppliant  knee.  Small  wonder  that  it  was  op- 
posed and  persecuted,  that  its  founder  was  cruci- 
fied. The  wonder  still  remains  that  it  spread  over 
the  whole  of  Europe,  until  the  emperor  of  Rome, 
Constantine,  found  it  politic  to  embrace  the  new 
religion.  History  repeats  itself,  and  so  we  find 
that  as  Christianity  grew  in  numbers  it  lost  in 
purity.  The  Church  of  Rome — the  Spanish  in- 
quisition, and  all  the  strange  array  of  monstros- 
ities that  arose  to  gratify  personal  ambition,  were 
in  their  turn  defeated  by  the  great  men  that  ne- 
cessity produced  to  swing  aloft  the  torch  of  rea- 
son to  enlighten  mankind. 

SOME  GREAT  MEN 

Great  men  and  great  men  have  arisen,  had  their 
following,  lived  their  day,  and  passed  along  to  give 
others  their  little  grain  of  truth  and  justice.  All 
great  men  are  inspired  with  a  great  belief,  and  all 
great  men  fail  to  be  great  by  departing  from  the 
cause  of  humanity  for  selfish  ambitions.  Notable 
among  modern  instances  stands  Napoleon,  splen- 
did, majestic,  and  in  chains.  His  memory  is  a  liv- 
ing monument  of  misplaced  power  and  kingly  at- 
tainments, wedded  to  selfish  ambitions  and  per- 
sonal gain.  We  admire  even  as  we  pity  the  lone 
prisoner  at  St.  Helena.  What  a  tragedy,  and  at 
the  same  time  what  a  travesty  was  the  end  of 
that  wonderful  man,  dying  alone  and  a  prisoner; 
dead,  being  brought  home  in  pomp  and  triumph. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  191 

Flowers  showered  over  the  unfeeling  clay  that 
was  not  blessed  with  one  little  posy  during  its  last 
mortal  career. 

Yes,  truly,  all  great  men  sum  up  the  greatness 
of  the  people  of  their  ages  and  live  enough  be- 
yond their  age  to  see  into  the  future,  then  when 
the  time  is  ripe  a  leader  more  bold  and  positive 
than  the  rest  breaks  out  and  makes  a  great  com- 
motion in  his  world.  We  move  on,  out  of  dark- 
ness into  light. 

CHRISTOPHER   COLUMBUS 

Christopher  Columbus  was  such  a  one.  He  had 
a  scientific  brain  combined  with  a  dreamy,  vision- 
ary temperament.  He  believed  he  was  divinely 
called  to  carry  Christianity  into  India.  His  very 
name  symbolized  to  him  that  he  was  a  modern 
Christ — Christo  meaning  Christ  or  Savior,  and 
Colombo  signifying  pigeon  carrier,  thus  made  to 
convey  the  meaning  of  "messenger  of  Christ." 
Yes,  we  may  safely  say,  it  was  the  religious  senti- 
ment that  gave  us  a  new  world,  for  nothing  short 
of  a  belief  in  supernatural  aid  could  have  helped 
him  to  triumph  over  difficulty  added  unto  diffi- 
culty and  to  finally  overcome  the  dark  fears  rife 
among  the  masses  at  that  period  concerning  the 
unknown  deep,  peopled  with  all  the  accumulated 
horrors  of  superstitious  ages,  and  in  spite  of  them, 
fit  out  vessels  to  sail  thereon,  and  finally  gain,  not 
only  his  purpose,  but  a  new  world.  This  prep- 


192  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

aration  for  a  new  nation  by  discovering  a  new 
country  came  into  existence  at  a  time  when  Eu- 
rope was  in  contest  between  Catholic  and  Pro- 
testant powers,  when  "free  thought"  was  rife,  and 
the  people  were  beginning  to  demand  more  re- 
ligious freedom.  Out  of  this  demand  and  its  re- 
fusal came  the  migrations  of  the  pilgrim  fathers, 
the  Hugenots,  the  Acadians,  the  former  seeking 
that  emancipation  of  thought,  which  induced  them 
to  break  away  from  the  old  home  and  seek  a 
new  one.  Then  they  in  turn  sought  to  restrict 
thought  and  to  oppress  their  brethren,  until  there 
were  other  outbreaks  and  other  colonies  were  es- 
tablished, and  finally  two  long  wars,  one  with 
the  mother  country  to  secure  political  freedom  or 
liberty,  and  the  other  a  civil  war  for  the  aboli- 
tion of  human  slavery.  We  came  to  the  fair  con- 
dition of  liberal  civilization  we  enjoy  today.  "Eter- 
nal vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty." 

TRUTH  IN  ALL 

This  preamble  has  been  made  that  we  may  see 
that  truth  is  embodied  in  nearly  all  radical 
changes,  no  matter  how  mixed  with  error  they 
may  be,  also  to  lay  the  way  for  a  fuller  under- 
standing and  more  tolerant  view  of  the  much  mis- 
represented and  not  understood  "Mormon"  ques- 
tion. 

GROWTH  OF  "MORMONISM" 

Now  let  us  wander  back  and  in  imagination 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  193 

stop  the  great  clock  of  time.  Let  us  command 
the  huge  pendulum  to  cease  its  swaying.  Let  us 
set  back  the  mighty  hands  of  the  years  for  about 
three-quarters  of  a  century  and  view  with  our 
own  eyes  the  beginning  and  growth  of  this  re- 
ligion dubbed  "Mormonism,"  properly  termed 
the  "Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints." 
Seventy-five  or  eighty  years  ago  New  York  was 
comparatively  a  new  country.  Ohio  and  Illinois 
were  for  the  most  part  a  wilderness.  The  Mis- 
souri River  bounded  the  limits  of  the  United 
States.  The  land  of  Utah  beyond,  though  ex- 
plored several  centuries  before,  by  the  Spanish* 
followed  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  later  by  the 
friars,  Dominguez  and  Escalante,  and  fifty  years 
later,  1778,  by  trappers,  then  in  1843  by  Fremont; 
the  country  at  this  time  was  being  held  by  the 
Aborigines  and  was  not  peopled  except  by  sav- 
age tribes,  and  still  more  savage  beasts,  besides 
being  cut  off  from  the  east  by  a  trackless  desert. 
In  the  far  east  there  began  to  evolve  a  new 
phase  of  society,  a  new  religion  that  this  unin- 
habited wilderness  full  of  wonderful  unclaimed 
resources  might  be  claimed  and  taken  possession 
of.  The  home  of  the  Utes  was  to  be  subdued, 
not  by  the  love  of  things  material,  but  by  that 
mysterious  agency  which  is  ever  at  work  within 
the  souls  of  men,  causing  them  to  court  expos- 
ure, cold,  hunger,  ignominy  and  death.  It  was 
that  something  we  all  question  of,  reason  about, 
suffer  for  and  know  little  or  nothing  about,  called 
14 


194  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

immortality.  This  incomprehensible  dream  of 
spirituality  that  consumes  the  hearts  of  mortals 
was  the  instrument  of  power  that  caused  a  new 
Israel  to  arise,  a  new  exodus  of  the  human  fam- 
ily to  be  conducted  and  a  new  Canaan  to  be  at- 
tained. 

BIRTH  OF  JOSEPH  SMITH 

In  the  year  1805  was  born  in  Sharon,  Windsor 
County,  Vermont,  a  blue-eyed,  fair  baby-boy, 
Joseph  Smith,  who  was  destined  to  be  the  founder 
of  a  new  form  of  religion. 

He  was  of  a  poetic  temperament  from  baby- 
hood, his  father  was  a  farmer,  and  the  boy  would 
often  leave  the  plow,  and  like  Joan  of  Arc,  listen 
to  the  "voices."  The  fanaticism  of  the  time,  the 
atmosphere  of  superstition,  the  un-Christian-like 
conduct  of  each  so-called  Christian  against  his 
diffierently  believing  brother,  all  these  things  must 
be  taken  into  account  in  studying  the  birth  and 
growth  of  "Mormonism." 

The  people  of  our  time  cannot  deal  justice  to 
the  people  of  another  time,  without  measuring 
the  advance  that  thought  has  made  and  deducting 
that  advance.  All  the  preachers  and  most  of  the 
people  laughed  at  Joseph  Smith — abused  him, 
called  him  silly,  said  his  vision  was  of  the  devil, 
if  he  really  had  one.  They  said  signs  and  revela- 
tions were  of  by-gone  days,  etc.  "Nevertheless 
I  have  had  a  vision,"  persisted  the  young  man, 
Joseph  Smith.  Opposition,  villification  and  mobs 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  195 

grew  apace.  Joseph  Smith  was  persecuted  and 
threatened  even  in  his  boyhood  days  by  men  who 
were  supposed  to  be  his  brethren  in  Christ,  for 
his  daring  to  say  that  he  was  a  prophet  of  God. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   CHURCH 

Time  rolled  on,  and  eventually  the  Church  was 
organized  with  six  members,  at  Fayette,  Seneca 
County,  New  York.  On  the  first  day  of  June, 
1830,  the  first  conference  was  held,  and  the 
church  consisted  of  thirty  members.  Then  came 
a  series  of  arrests  and  trials  of  Joseph  Smith, 
charging  him  with  all  kinds  of  crim'es.  In  all 
cases  he  was  acquitted,  says  Bancroft,  the  his- 
torian. The  "Mormons"  now  organized  into 
missionaries  and  began  to  preach  throughout  the 
States.  In  1831  they  had  traveled  over  fifteen 
thousand  miles  on  foot,  carrying  their  effects  on 
their  backs,  preaching  and  exhorting  until  tens 
of  thousands  had  listened,  and  hundreds  were  or- 
ganized into  branches. 

The  leaders  and  their  teachings  were  surely 
upbuilding,  and  if  not  for  the  strength  of  their 
character  they  would  many  times  have  been 
swept  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  Their  sufferings 
were  beyond  description  in  words.  Would  that 
I  had  the  ability  and  the  time  to  tell  of  the  hor- 
rors and  savage  warfare  all  along  the  line  against 
this  people,  as  vile  as  any  ever  perpetrated  in 
America.  They  migrated  and  were  abused  all 


196  •     LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

along  from  New  York  to  Kirtland,  Ohio,  to  In- 
dependence, Mo.,  then  to  Illinois. 

On  June  27,  1844,  at  Carthage,  Illinois,  the  mob 
did  its  worst  by  murdering  Joseph  Smith,  the 
prophet  and  leader,  and  his  brother  Hyrum,  the 
patriarch. 

BRIGHAM  YOUNG 

Brigham  Young  was  born  in  the  little  town  of 
Whitingharri,  Windham  County,  Vermont,  June  1, 
1801.  The  century  that  ushered  this  great  man 
into  this  world  of  ours  was  the  most  marvelous  in 
the  history  of  mankind.  Man  explored  the  heights 
and  depths  of  knowledge,  penetrated  to  the  dark- 
est corners  of  the  earth,  and  peered  into  the  heav- 
ens for  the  secrets  of  the  universe.  At  the  dawn- 
ing of  the  nineteenth  century  America  only  had 
a  population  of  five  and  a  half  million  souls,  now 
it  boasts  of  a  population  of  eighty  millions.  There 
was  not  a  mile  of  steam  railroad  in  the  United 
States;  now  the  nation  possesses  over  a  quar- 
ter of  a  million  miles,  almost  half  the  railroad 
mileage  of  the  world. 

Brigham  Young  grew  into  a  sturdy  manhood, 
strong  in  body  and  in  mind.  By  vocation  he  was 
a  painter  and  glazier,  a  Methodist  in  religion.  He 
joined  the  "Mormon"  church  on  the  14th  day  of 
April,  1832;  he  became  one  of  the  twelve  apos- 
tles on  February  14,  1835,  and  forthwith  he  en- 
tered upon  his  eventful  and  successful  career. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  197 

Brigham  Young  knew  the  meaning  of  the  word 
"friendship,"  and  he  was  a  staunch  friend  of  the 
prophet  Joseph  Smith.  He  traversed  the  Eastern 
States  and  Canada,  preaching  and  crying  in  the 
wilderness  of  sin,  for  the  people  to  hearken  unto 
the  new  religion.  His  success  speaks  for  itself. 

After  the  death  of  Joseph  Smith  he  became 
president  of  the  church.  In  1846  President  Brig- 
ham  Young  and  his  associates  set  about  prepar- 
ing for  the  journey  of  the  pioneers  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

THE    PIONEERS 

The  line  of  the  emigrating  hosts  soon  stretched 
from  the  Missouri  river  to  the  valley  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake,  headed  by  that  fearless  pioneer,  faith- 
ful friend  and  courageous  leader,  Brigham 
Young. 

There  are  few  more  touching  pictures  in  all 
the  world's  annals  than  that  journey  of  those  de- 
voted men  and  women  to  Utah.  They  were  a 
sturdy  band  of  people.  They  had  been  crushed 
out  of  civilization  and  hurled  naked  and  desolate 
upon  the  breast  of  the  wilderness.  Behind  them 
a  flaming  sword  of  prejudice  was  upraised.  There 
could  be  no  return  for  them,  destitute  as  they 
were  they  faced  the  unknown. 

Neither  with  tongue  nor  pen  can  men  depict 
the  sufferings,  the  sorrows  and  hardships  of  this 
noble  band  of  pioneers.  The  scene  continually 


198  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

before  them  was  of  such  desolation  as  would  have 
been  despair  to  any  other  people.  The  sunlight 
only  was  bright  above  them ;  only  trust,  hope  and 
song  kept  their  hearts  from  breaking,  and  yet 
these  people  are  called  by  some  misinformed  peo- 
ple and  disgruntled  politicians  a  menace  to  the 
nation. 

As  a  citizen  of  Utah,  a  lover  of  my  state  and 
country,  I  resent  the  insult  with  all  my  strength, 
and  with  all  my  soul,  that  such  a  people  or  their 
generation  could  be  a  menace  to  the  American 
government.  The  bettering  of  human  kind  is  not 
a  menace  to  any  nation,  which  has  for  its  princi- 
ples liberty,  truth  and  justice  to  all  its  people — 
this  is  what  our  flag  represents. 

Most  Americans  forget  that  the  pioneers  were 
also  Americans,  fleeing  from  prejudice  into  an 
unknown  land,  even  as  their  ancestors  had  fled 
from  England  in  the  Mayflower. 

These  grand  old  souls  turned  their  faces  to- 
ward the  setting  sun;  they  crossed  the  trackless 
plains;  they  climbed  the  mighty  mountains,  de- 
scended on  the  other  side  with  tired  feet  and 
half-starved,  compelled  at  times  to  feed  on  roots 
and  barks,  working  a  trail  as  they  advanced.  They 
marched  westward,  day  after  day,  not  knowing 
where  they  were  going.  They  only  knew  they 
were  on  the  way.  They  finally  arrived  at  the 
place  known  as  Utah.  The  trail  can  be  traced 
now  from  the  Missouri  River  to  Salt  Lake  by 
lonely  mounds.  As  they  emerged  from  Emigra- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  199 

tion  canyon,  they  shouted  for  joy  as  they  gazed  on 
the  valley  and  the  lake.  Here,  on  the  barren  soil, 
July  24,  1847,  Brigham  Young  lifted  his  hand 
and  exclaimed,  "In  the  name  of  Israel's  God,  this 
is  the  spot ;  here  we  will  make  our  home."  This 
little  band  of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  men, 
three  women  and  two  children,  out  in  the  desert, 
with  only  the  blue  above  them,  formed  a  circle 
with  their  dilapidated  wagons,  and  then  a  few 
brave  men  took  their  positions  as  sentinels  of  pro- 
tection against  wolves  and  Indians. 

That  night  as  the  sun  went  down  these  ex- 
iles formed  a  circle  within  the  cam'p  and  on  their 
knees  with  hands  uplifted  they  held  a  praise  serv- 
ice to  Almighty  God  for  the  watch  He  had  kept 
over  them,  and  from  the  sod  they  looked  through 
tears  and  with  anguish  up  to  God  and  dedicated 
their  lives  to  the  development  of  their  new  desert 
home  to  ceaseless  toil,  without  a  dream  of  lux- 
ury. 

The  desert  of  Utah  was  then  in  Mexican  terri- 
tory, and  these  abused  "Mormons"  flung  to  the 
breeze  for  the  first  time  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of 
the  United  States — America.  And  the  old  song 
is  still  in  the  air,  "The  busy  bees  of  deseret  are 
still  around  the  hive."  The  word  "deseret"  is 
said  to  have  been  taken  from  the  Egyptian,  mean- 
ing honey  bee.  "Et"  means  a  small  desert,  hence 
the  word  "Deseret."  The  original  name  of  Utah 
was  the  State  of  Deseret. 

Brigham  Young  adopted  for  his  coat-of-armi 


200  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

a  lion  and  a  beehive.  Surely  the  "Mormons"  have 
had  the  strength  of  the  lion  and  the  industry  of 
the  bee,  and  they  are  still  as  they  at  first  styled 
themselves  to  be,  "the  busy  bees  of  Deseret." 


When  one  stops  to  think  that  foreign  emigra- 
tion has  been  largely  from  the  uneducated  dis- 
tricts of  Europe,  the  civilizing  influences  can  be 
readily  estimated. 

The  colonization  schemes  of  the  Salvation 
Army  and  numerous  other  organizations  have 
copied  their  systems  from  the  "Mormons." 

The  people  of  the  East  in  a  sense  are  not  to 
blame  for  the  silly  and  awful  things  they  have 
been  made  to  believe  about  Utah  and  its  people. 
They  have  heard  only  one  side  of  the  story,  and 
while  the  crowd  is  shouting  "Crucify,  Crucify," 
it  is  a  difficult  task  to  get  a  hearing.  When  clam- 
or gets  agoing,  justice  and  charity  are  relegated 
to  the  rear.  It  takes  a  great  many  truths  to  wipe 
out  the  trail  of  one  lie. 

ALL  NATIONALITIES 

Among  the  people  of  the  "Mormon"  church  are 
to  be  found  nearly  every  nationality  under  the 
sun — the  emigration  being  largest  from  England, 
Denmark,  Sweden  and  from  all  parts  of  the 
United  States.  The  "Mormon"  religion  is  a  prac- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  201 

tical  one,  and  irrespective  of  beliefs,  it  has  been 
a  blessing  to  thousands  of  people,  hom'es,  school 
houses  and  churches  have  been  builded  the  peo- 
ple have  been  educated  and  lifted  up  to  higher 
plains  of  life.  The  "Mormon"  church  believes 
in  building  here  on  earth ;  its  business  is  not  con- 
fined to  the  clouds;  it  helps  men  to  help  them- 
selves. It  did  not  take  the  rich  and  make  them 
poor,  it  took  the  poor  and  made  them  rich. 

I  appreciate  most  fully  the  sentiment,  "He  who 
stoops  above  the  fallen  stands  erect,"  but  in  my 
estimation  he  who  keeps  a  man  from  falling  per- 
forms a  nobler  work.  Then  why  not  encourage 
an  institution  that  keeps  men  from  falling? 
Eighty  per  cent  of  the  "Mormon"  people  of  Utah 
and  surrounding  states  own  their  own  homes,  and 
the  educational  status  of  the  entire  community 
ranks  second  in  the  United  States. 

A  person  or  a  people  who  possess  superior 
characteristics,  or  who  have  won  victories,  be- 
come targets  for  criticism.  They  stand  out  in  the 
sunlight,  and  the  crowd  in  the  valleys  below  look 
up  and  grin  and  "cuss." 

There  are  spots  on  the  face  of  the  sun.  There 
are  spots  on  the  faces  of  many  pretty  girls.  Many 
people  see  nothing  but  the  spots  and  freckles. 

LOOKING  FOR  SUN  SPOTS 

There  are  thousands  of  people  in  this  partially 
civilized  world  who  look  for  sun  spots.  The 


202  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

dazzling  orb,  with  its  life-giving  elements,  its 
beauty  and  its  splendor,  count  for  naught  be- 
cause occasional  spots  are  found  upon  its  sur- 
face. 

Envious  detraction,  devilish  jealousy,  is  the 
motive  power  that  has  set  evil  tongues  and  vile 
mouths  sputtering  poison  over  all  these  United 
States  about  the  Utah  people.  Utah  people !  you 
must  prove  by  your  every-day  life  that  you  are 
good,  for  everybody  assumes  that  you  are  bad. 

JUDGED  BY  THEIR  FRUITS 

No  matter  how  erroneous  a  clamoring  crowd 
may  claim  the  "Mormon"  beliefs  or  convictions 
to  be,  we  as  citizens  will  answer  their  shouts  by 
holding  up  to  their  gaze  our  achievements,  and 
say  to  them,  "A  tree  must  be  judged  by  its  fruits," 
and  from  this  basis  Utah  and  her  people  are  ready 
and  willing  to  pass  the  ordeal. 

Let  us  celebrate  and  rejoice  in  the  many  bless- 
ings of  today.  Let  us  do  honor  to  the  old  pio- 
neer. He  rests  beneath  the  sod.  Let  us  pay  the 
debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  or  we  are  ungrateful 
and  dishonest.  We  must  pay  it  to  the  present 
and  future  generations  by  living  up  to  the  ad- 
monitions of  the  "Mormon"  thirteenth  article  of 
faith.  If  we  do  this  we  shall  not  be  very  far 
from  the  mark  of  a  Stirling  manhood,  irrespective 
of  creed,  or  nationality.  It  reads,  "We  believe 
in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  benevolent,  virtuous, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  203 

and  in  doing  good  to  all  men;  indeed,  we  may 
say  that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul,  We 
believe  all  things,  we  hope  all  things,  we  have  en- 
dured many  things  and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure 
all  things.  If  there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely, 
or  of  good  report,  or  praiseworthy,  we  seek  after 
these  things." 


SLEEP,  OLD  PIONEER 

By  Will  M.  Carleton 
(Which  is  most  appropriate  for  this  occasion.) 

When  the  springtime  touch  is  lightest — 
When  the  summer-eyes  are  brightest, 

Or  the  autumn  sings  most  drear ; 
When  the  winter's  hair  is  whitest — 

Sleep,  old  pioneer! 
Safe  beneath  the  sheltering  soil, 

Late  enough  you  crept; 
You  were  weary  of  the  toil, 

Long  before  you  slept. 
Well  you  paid  for  every  blessing, 

Bought  with  grief  each  day  of  cheer — 
Nature's  arms  around  you  pressing, 
Nature's  lips  your  brow  caressing; 

Sleep,  old  pioneer! 

When  the  hill  of  toil  was  steepest, 
When  the  forest  frown  was  deepest, 
Poor,  but  young,  you  hastened  here ; 


204  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Came  where  solid  hope  was  cheapest — 

Came  a  pioneer, 
Made  the  western  jungles  view 

Civilization's  charms; 
Snatched  a  home  for  yours  and  you, 

From  the  lean  tree  arms. 
Toil  had  never  cause  to  doubt  you — 

Progress'  path  you  helped  to  clear; 
But  today  forgets  about  you, 
And  the  world  rides  on  without  you — 

Sleep,  old  pioneer! 

Careless  crowds  go  daily  past  you, 
Where  their  future  fate  has  cast  you, 

Leaving  not  a  sigh  nor  tear, 
And  your  wonder-works  outlast  you, 

Brave  old  pioneer! 
Little  care  the  selfish  throng 

Where  your  heart  is  hid, 
Though  they  thrive  upon  the  strong, 

Resolute  work  it  did. 
But  our  memory  eyes  have  found  you, 

And  we  hold  you  grandly  dear ; 
With  no  work-day  woes  to  wound  you — 
With  the  peace  of  God  around  you — 

Sleep,  old  pioneer! 

(This  address  contains  not  only  my  Twenty- fourth  of 
July  oration  at  lona,  Idaho,  but  important  parts  of  my 
lecture,  delivered  in  the  East  and  elsewhere.  I  found  it 
necessary  to  arrange  the  same  under  the  one  heading.) 


Music  in  Utah. 

It  has  been  said  that  "music  hath  charms." 
Indeed  it  has !  Utah  has  the  singer  and  the 
song.  We  are  a  community  of  singers.  Utah  is 
the  Italy  of  America. 

Music  gives  us  courage  on  life's  uneven  high- 
way. 

Music  cheers  the  faint  and  weary. 

Music  lulls  the  babe  into  dreamland. 

Music  makes  the  heart  tender. 

Music  smoothes  the  passage  to  the  grave. 

Music  refines  the  home  and  draws  the  family 
together  in  tender  sentiments  of  reverence  and  as- 
piration. 

Music  awakens  heroic  virtues  and  arouses  in 
the  sluggish  breast,  enthusiasm. 

Music  gives  a  distinctive  force  in  social  ranks. 

Music  stirs  the  soul  and  unfolds  the  mental 
vision  to  the  highest  ideals  of  character. 

Music!  Without  its  divine  power,  human  life 
would  fade  away  and  men  and  women  become 
automatons,  heartless  and  cold. 

EVAN  STEPHENS  AND  THE  "MORMON" 
CHOIRS. 

There  are  in  Utah  over  a  thousand  choirs, 
there  being  one  in  every  chapel  or  ward,  besides 


206  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Sabbath  Schools  and  M.  I.  A.  choirs.  Each 
choir  numbers  from  twenty  to  fifty  in  wards, 
tabernacle  choirs  from  seventy-five  to  five  hun- 
dred, the  tabernacle  choir  in  Salt  Lake  City  num- 
bering the  latter.  These  choirs  sing  mostly 
hymns  and  anthems,  glees  and  choruses,  sacred 
and  secular,  the  latter  being  used  chiefly  for  en- 
tertainments. 

The  class  of  music  used  varies  from  the  four- 
part  hymn  tune  to  the  chief  and  grandest  chor- 
uses from  the  classic  oratorios  and  operas.  The 
repertoire  of  the  Tabernacle  choir  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  including  the  most  select  and  best  choruses 
from  the  (German)  Handel,  Bach,  Haydn,  Mo- 
zart, Mendelssohn,  Wagner,  Gluck  and  Weber, 
etc.,  (Italian)  Verdi,  Donezetti  Belinni,  Rosinni, 
Mascagni,  Pucinni,  etc.,  (Russian)  Glinka, 
(French)  Gounod,  Bizett,  Thomas,  Massanette, 
Auber  and  Saint  Saens,  (English)  Sullivan, 
Randegger.  Parry  ,  Stainer,  and  our  American 
Buck,  Parker,  Chadwick  and  others.  And  side  by 
side  with  the  choicest  of  these  are  compositions 
by  our  own  local  composers,  Stephens,  Daynes, 
Thomas,  Careless,  Beesley,  McClellan,  Shepherd 
and  others  whose  works  do  not  suffer  in  com- 
parison with  their  classic  companions. 

In  an  instrumental  way  we  have  cabinet  or- 
gans and  pianos  in  the  majority  of  homes — the 
latter  now  fast  taking  the  place  of  the  former. 
Brass  and  military  bands  are  common.  Our 
Symphony  orchestra  in  Salt  Lake,  with  Prof.  Me- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  207 

Clellan  director,  gives  four  concerts  a  year,  and 
numbers  sixty  men.  It  is  a  fast-growing  factor 
in  our  music. 

The  Tabernacle  pipe  organ  is  one  of  the  larg- 
est and  best  in  the  country.  Has  cost  about 
$100,000.00,  the  original  great  case  and  instru- 
ment having  been  built  at  great  cost  even  before 
there  was  a  railway  within  one  thousand  miles. 
It  was  built  and  voiced  by  a  "Mormon,"  who  still 
resides  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and  the  original  tone 
quality  was  declared  to  be  the  finest  possible,  by 
all  great  artists  traveling  through — its  diapason 
even  excelling  that  of  its  present  tone  remodeled, 
every  modern  appliance  being  now  added  at  the 
expense  of  $15,000.00. 

We  have  young  men  and  ladies  well  schooled 
in  music,  many  of  them  thoroughly  schooled  in 
Paris,  Berlin,  London,  New  York  and  Boston, 
though  the  home  trained  article,  in  several  in- 
stances, yet  hold  their  own. 

For  example,  Evan  Stephens,  though  born  in 
Wales,  and  having  had  a  review  of  his  personal 
unaided  studies  for  about  one  year  under  Prof. 
Chadwick  and  Whiting,  of  the  New  England 
Conservatory  of  Music,  Boston,  was  raised  in 
Utah,  and,  unaided,  mastered  Harmony,  Counter- 
point and  Composition,  besides  acquainting  him- 
self with  nearly  all  of  the  great  composers' 
works  up  to  date.  He  is  the  acknowledged  lead- 
ing conductor  and  such  great  traveling  conduc- 
tors as  Sousa,  Gilmore,  Theodore  Thomas,  Duss 


208  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

and  others  who  have  met  him  and  heard  his  choir, 
have  given  him  the  warmest  praise,  as  have  such 
artists  as  Paderewski,  Rosenthal,  Nordica,  Patti, 
Melba  and  others  who  have  performed  there  un- 
der his  baton. 

Music  is  taught  in  all  the  city  schools  in  the 
state,  and  in  very  many  country  schools.  This 
has  been  the  case  in  Salt  Lake  City  for  nearly 
twenty  years,  when  Prof.  Stephens  first  intro- 
duced it  as  a  regular  study. 

Utah  produces  exceptionally  fine  voices,  and 
much  attention  is  now  given  to  properly  training 
the  human  voice.  So  you  perceive  that  in  a 
choral  line,  especially  for  worship,  we  are  away 
in  the  lead,  and  we  are  well  abreast  with  even 
New  England  in  all  other  lines,  excepting  the 
Boston  Symphony  orchestra  and  two  or  three  of 
the  Oratorio  societies,  to  catch  up  with  which,  in 
their  special  lines  of  work,  we  must  await  a 
larger  population,  though  for  detached  chorus 
work,  it  is  doubtful  if  our  Tabernacle  choir  is 
.excelled  by  the  best.  Before  the  present  con- 
ductor was  in  charge  three  years  they  had  won 
second  prize  at  a  world  contest  in  Chicago,  (the 
public  and  critics  present  freely  awarded  them 
first.) 

More  good  music  can  be  heard  free  in  Salt 
Lake  City  than  in  any  other  city  in  America,  re- 
citals being  given  almost  daily -in  the  great  Tab- 
ernacle, for  travelers,  the  great  choir  singing 
three  Sundays  in  the  month.  This,  added  to  num- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  209 

berless  recitals  and  ward  entertainments,  keeps 
the  city  in  a  constant  uproar  of  music,  and  all 
without  money  and  without  price. 

Our  aim,  musically,  is  to  excel  the  world  in 
this  refined  and  divine  art,  as  a  whole  people,  not 
merely  the  select  few.  The  psalmist  says,  "Let 
the  people  praise  Him;"  "Let  all  the  people 
praise  Him,"  is  Utah's  motto.  One  teacher  alone 
in  Salt  Lake  City  (Evan  Stephens)  has  had  for 
training  over  thirty  thousand  (30,000)  during  the 
past  twenty-four  years.  This  is  how  we  can 
have  a  regular  choir  of  five  hundred  voices 
"without  money  and  without  price,"  in  the  Tab- 
ernacle, (and  he  could  in  a  month  more  than 
double  the  number  if  desirable,  and  that  out  of  a 
"Mormon"  population  of  perhaps  under  30,000. 
We  could  be  isolated  from  all  the  world,  and  yet 
have  the  highest  musical  ideals  to  pattern  after, 
and  continue  to  grow  into  a  musical,  artistic  peo- 
ple of  the  first  rank.  But  we  prefer  to  be  in 
touch  with  the  world  and  partake  of  the  fruits 
of  genius  from  all  lands,  making  all  that  is  good 
our  own. 

What  Boston  is  to  the  East  in  musical  culture, 
Salt  Lake  City  is  growing  to  be  for  the  West — 
sweet  music  everywhere. 

JOHN  J.  McCLELLAN. 

In  devoting  a  brief  space  to  this  splendid  man, 
John  J.  McClellan.  I  do  so  in  friendship's  name, 

15 


210  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

as  a  lover  of  the  artistic  and  to  pay  a  purely 
friendly  tribute  to  a  friend,  a  man  whose  geni- 
ality and  unaffected  mastery  in  the  divine  art  of 
music,  at  the  great  organ,  piano  or  in  com- 
position, stamps  him  as  one  of  the  fixed  stars, 
growing  brighter  every  day  in  the  unfolding 
process  of  development. 

The  birth  into  the  soul  of  things,  of  what  we 
call  genius,  requires  ages  to  bring  it  forth  into 
the  light  of  life. 

The  harmonizing  influences  of  strength  in 
body,  simplicity  in  character  and  sublimity  of 
mind,  are  the  controlling  elements  in  the  produc- 
tion of  a  well-balanced  man,  an  artist  and  earnest 
soul  such  as  we  find  in  John  J.  McClellan. 

Born  in  the  state  of  Utah  at  a  period  of  its 
life  when  nature  in  response  to  the  will  power  and 
determined  efforts  of  the  pioneers,  began  to  re- 
spond by  pouring  forth  into  the  laps  of  her  Utah 
children  her  bounteous  gifts  and  in  melodious 
voice  she  burst  into  songs  of  love,  rewarding  the 
old  settlers  and  welcoming  the  new  born  into  a 
land  of  peace  and  plenty. 

John  J.  McClellan  came  into  this  world  at  Pay- 
son,  about  65  miles  south  of  Salt  Lake  City,  a 
pretty  little  country  town,  cheered  by  babbling 
brooks  and  mellow  sunshine,  beautiful  with  trees 
and  flowers,  surrounded  by  mountains  and  peo- 
pled by  good,  honest  country  folks.  Such  were 
his  parents  and  John  was  welcomed  with  songs 
of  joy  into  the  home,  on  April  20,  1874. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  211 

The  baby  grew  apace,  and  as  soon  as  the  moth- 
er had  taught  him  his  first  baby  footsteps,  in 
childish  glee  he  toddled  toward  the  organ  and 
from  his  baby  touch  came  forth  a  concord  of 
sweet  sounds. 

He  is  now  traveling  on  toward  the  35th  mile- 
stone on  life's  highway,  the  summit  of  manhood, 
the  half  way  point  of  the  allotted  space  of  three 
score  years  and  ten.  From  boy  to  man  a  golden 
chord  has  linked  each  succeeding  year,  blending 
the  whole  in  one  harmonious  symphony. 

Today  his  cheery  words  and  his  music  reveal 
the  soul  and  genius  of  the  man,  an  artist,  a  genial 
companion  and  a  faithful  friend. 

He  began  his  musical  studies  at  the  age  of  ten 
and  one  year  later  he  was  organist  of  the  church 
in  his  native  town. 

He  worked  and  studied  as  best  he  could,  until 
at  the  age  of  seventeen,  without  a  competent 
teacher,  until  the  soul  of  ambition  whispered  into 
his  youthful  ear,  "Go  into  the  musical  world  and 
study  with  the  masters." 

The  breaking  of  home  ties  took  place  on  July 
9th,  1891,  his  destination  being  Saginaw,  Michi- 
gan. Here  he  studied  under  the  eminent  German 
master,  Albert  W.  Platte,  and  soon  he  was  en- 
gaged to  play  in  some  of  the  great  churches  with 
his  musical  soul  expanding  in  glorious  splendor. 

He  then  entered  the  Ann  Arbor  Conservatory 
of  Music,  where  he  became  a  piano  pupil  of  Jo- 
hann  Erich  Schmaal,  also  studying  theory  and 


212  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

organ  with  Prof.  Stanley,  director  of  the  school. 
A  year  and  a  half  later  the  great  Spanish  pianist, 
Albert  Jonas,  became  head  of  the  piano  school, 
and  Mr.  McClellan  advanced  rapidly  under  the 
direction  of  this  master  teacher. 

After  completing  his  studies  in  the  East,  his 
soul  yearned  for  the  West.  The  song  of  the 
mountains  echoed  in  his  heart  and  brain  and 
called  him  back  to  the  valleys  of  Utah,  "Home, 
Sweet  Home." 

In  September,  1896,  Prof.  McClellan  opened  a 
studio  in  Salt  Lake  City.  Three  years  later,  in 
August,  1899,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  he  left 
for  Berlin,  where  he  spent  a  year  with  Xaver 
Scharwenka,  the  noted  Hungarian  pianist,  and 
also  under  Ernest  Jedliczka,  the  Russian  master. 
Since  his  return  home  he  has  been  the  leading 
spirit  in  developing  the  divine  art  of  music  in 
Utah. 

As  a  composer,  Prof.  McClellan  occupies  a 
high  plain,  many  of  his  compositions  having  been 
enthusiastically  received. 

As  organist  at  the  Tabernacle  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  First  Presidency  of  the  Church, 
he  inaugurated  a  series  of  free  semi-weekly  or- 
gan recitals,  and  for  several  years  thousands  of 
tourists  and  local  citizens  have  enjoyed  and  been 
made  nobler  beings  by  the  sublime  music  burst- 
ing into  song  from  the  deft  touch  of  my  artist 
friend,  John  J.  McClellan. 

Space  forbids  me  telling  of  the  victories  won 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  213 

by  this  gifted  man.    They  are  many,  and  are  re- 
corded in  many  books;  read  them. 

May  the  next  thirty-five  years  be  a  continuous 
unfoldment  in  all  that  is  pure  and  good  in  this 
man's  life.  Then  genius  will  hold  sway  and  the 
career  of  John  J.  McClellan  will  have  proved  a 
rich  blessing  to  human-kind. 

"Time  wrecks  the  proudest  piles  we  raise, 
The  towers,  the  domes,  the  temples  fall, 
The  fortress  crumbles  and  decays, 
One  breath  of  song  outlasts  them  all." 

THE  CAMBRIANS 

The  historian  of  the  future,  in  dealing  with  the 
subject  of  m'usic,  in  the  State  of  Utah,  will,  with- 
out a  doubt,  have  considerable  to  say  of  the  Cam- 
brian Association  of  Salt  Lake  City. 

This  association  was  founded  in  1892,  having 
for  one  of  its  objects  the  development  of  music — 
something  dear  to  the  heart  and  soul  of  every 
true  man  and  woman. 

Three  highly  successful  Eisteddfods — a  festi- 
val of  the  very  highest  character — have  been 
given  in  Salt  Lake  City  under  the  direction  and 
management  of  the  Cambrian  Society.  The  first 
was  held  in  the  fall  of  1895,  another  in  1898,  and 
one  in  October  of  1908. 

They  were  all  largely  attended  and  the  results 
for  good  in  the  cause  of  music  can  hardly  be 
estimated.  Each  Eisteddfod  raised  the  standard 


214  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

of  music  to  a  still  higher  plane,  and  at  the 
same  time  brought  out  talent  that,  except  for  the 
means  thus  afforded,  might  have  been  lying  dor- 
mant to  this  day. 

A  common  expression  in  Wales — the  birth- 
place and  home  of  the  Eisteddfod — is,  when  re- 
ferring to  some  noted  artist,  "He  (or  she,  as  the 
case  may  be)  is  a  child  of  the  Eisteddfod."  Even 
in  the  short  space  of  thirteen  years  right  here 
in  Utah  the  same  reference  can  in  all  truth  be 
made  to  many  of  our  best  artists — some  of  whom 
have  made  for  themselves  a  reputation  in  places 
abroad.  Miss  Emma  Lucy  Gates,  Miss  Nannie 
Tout,  Mrs.  Emma  Ramsey-Morris,  Charles  Kent 
and  many  others  first  came  into  prominence  as 
competitors  at  the  Eisteddfod,  and  therefore  must 
be  now  regarded  as  graduates  of  this  worthy  in- 
stitution, known  throughout  the  civilized  world  as 
promotive  of  all  that  is  good  and  elevating  among 
the  children  of  men.  The  following  well-known 
citizens  comprise  the  officers  and  directors  of  the 
Cambrian  Association : 

Arthur  L.  Thomas,  President ;  David  L.  Davis, 
Vice  President ;  Harry  F.  Evans,  Secretary ;  John 
James,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Nephi  L.  Mor- 
ris, Treasurer;  Wm.  N.  Williams,  Walter  J. 
Lewis,  T.  F.  Thorrias,  Thomas  E.  Jeremy,  Math- 
onihah  Thomas,  Wm.  D.  Prosser.  Since  the  in- 
ception of  the  organization  three  deaths  have  oc- 
curred among  the  members,  viz.,  Elias  Morris, 
George  G.  By  water,  and  David  John.  They  were 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  215 

all  men  of  sterling  integrity  and  character,  greatly 
beloved  by  their  associates  and  the  citizens  of 
Utah  generally. 

In  conclusion  let  me  propose  that  we  raise  our 
hats  to  the  Cambrian  Association  and  at  the  same 
time  let  us  all  hope  that  its  usefulness  in  the  cause 
of  the  greatest  and  grandest  of  arts  may  con- 
tinue without  interruption  in  the  years  yet  to 
come.  To  each  individual  member  I  say : 

"May  the  blesings  of  health, 
The  enjoyment  of  wealth, 
With  a  nice  little  portion  of  pleasure, 
With  a  home  full  of  love, 
And  the  blessings  from  above, 
Be  showered  on  thee  without  measure. 
And  year  after  year,  may  thy  blessings  increase; 
And  thy  passage  thro'  life  be  a  mission  of  peace." 

THE  SALT  LAKE  CHORAL  SOCIETY 

The  Salt  Lake  Choral  Society  was  organized 
August  6,  1908,  for  the  purpose  of  competing  for 
the  grand  prize  in  the  fourth  National  Eistedd- 
fod, which  was  held  in  the  "Mormon"  Tabernacle 
October  1,  2,  3,  1908.  Although  badly  handi- 
capped in  many  ways,  this  chorus  was  one  of  the 
chief  contenders  for  first  place  and  lost  to  the 
Denver  Competition  Chorus  only  by  a  very 
close  margin,  Denver  being  first  and  Salt  Lake 
second. 

Encouraged  by  the  excellent  showing  made, 


216  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

the  officials  decided  to  make  the  organization 
permanent  and  increase  the  membership  to  two 
hundred  voices,  the  original  number  being  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  While  the  chorus  orig- 
inally had  the  active  support  of  the  most  of  the 
professional  singers  in  the  city,  the  new  member- 
ship has  added  materially  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
body  and  a  magnificent  chorus  is  now  working 
for  the  advancement  of  music  in  the  state  of 
Utah. 

Some  of  the  aims  and  objects  of  the  society  as 
set  forth  in  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  are  "to 
establish  and  carry  on  a  society  that  will  promote 
and  elevate  among  its  members  and  the  general 
public  the  art  of  music,  especially  in  matters  of 
choral,  oratorial,  operatic  and  solo  singing,  and  to 
promote  whatever  may  be  for  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  community,  and  in  connection  there- 
with to  enter  into  such  transactions  as  may  be 
deemed  necessary  to  carry  out  the  objects  of 
the  society."  While  this  "declaration  of  aims 
and  objects"  is  necessarily  very  general  in  its 
character,  it  gives  an  idea  as  to  what  the  organ- 
ization expects  to  accomplish. 

While  the  society  will  do  all  in  its  power  to 
promote  the  interests  of  muisc  wherever  possible, 
the  main  object  will,  of  course,  be  the  rendition 
of  great  oratorios,  operas,  cantatas,  etc.  At  the 
present  writing  the  chorus  is  preparing  the  "Eli- 
jah," possibly  the  greatest  of  all  oratorios,  for 
rendition  at  a  midwinter  music  festival.  Selec- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  217 

tions  from  some  of  the  Wagner  operas  will  also 
be  sung  at  that  time.  The  chorus  will  also  be  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  annual  spring  music 
festival  held  in  Salt  Lake  each  year.  Soloists 
for  these  occasions  will  be  selected  from  among 
the  members,  many  of  whom  are  vocalists  of  na- 
tional reputation. 

Mr.  John  J.  McClellan,  organist  of  the  "Mor- 
mon" Tabernacle,  and  also  conductor  of  the  Salt 
Lake  Symphony  orchestra,  is  director  of  the 
chorus.  A  brilliant  musician,  well  trained  and 
equipped  for  the  work,  Mr.  McClellan  will  doubt- 
less make  of  the  Salt  Lake  Choral  Society  one 
of  the  foremost  musical  organizations  of  the 
west,  if  not  the  entire  country. 

The  Choral  Society  is  not  under  the  direction 
or  control  of  any  reilgious  organization.  Its 
membership  embraces  people  with  varied  beliefs 
from  the  various  church  choirs  of  the  city  and 
of  no  church  or  choir.  Good  character  is  the  pass- 
port. Catholics,  "Mormons,"  Methodists,  Bap- 
tists, Jews  and  other  denominations  make  up  its 
singing  forces.  The  Choral  Society  is  purely 
fraternal.  The  advancement  of  music  is  the  sole 
object  of  the  organization,  and  religious  differ- 
ences are  not  thought  of.  Regular  weekly  re- 
hearsals are  held,  and  with  the  repertoire  being 
constantly  added  to,  the  chorus  will,  in  the  near 
future,  be  one  of  the  finest  in  America  and  will 
be  open  to  compete  with  the  great  choruses  of 
the  world. 


Scattered  Leaves. 

If  any  one  has  an  idea  that  the  people  of  Utah 
live  in  log  huts,  or  hovels,  and  that  Salt  Lake  City 
is  a  frontier  town,  here  are  a  few  pointers  toward 
the  light  of  truth : 

Salt  Lake  City  has  now  a  thoroughly  organized 
method  of  informing  the  inquiring  public  regard- 
ing the  resources  and  possibilities  that  are  to  be 
found  in  Utah. 

The  Salt  Lake  Real  Estate  Association  was  or- 
ganized in  October,  1903,  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
proving the  conditions  of  the  realty  market  and  to 
promote  and  encourage  any  movement  that 
would  assist  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  and 
state. 

It  was  first  to  establish  and  maintain  a  Bureau 
of  Exhibits  of  Utah's  wealth  and  resources, 
which  subsequently  was  consolidated  with  the 
Manufacturers'  and  Merchants'  Association,  and 
the  State  Fair,  under  the  name  of  the  "Chamber 
of  Commerce,"  which  has  been  visited  by  over 
15,000  tourists  and  visitors. 

Inquiries  from  all  parts  of  the  Union  are  an- 
swered daily  and  appropriate  literature  forward- 
ed. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  219 

Utah  mines  have  paid  a  little  more  than  $80,- 
000,000.00  in  dividends. 

We  have  a  small  crop  of  "knockers,"  but  they 
are  being  weeded  out.  The  crop  of  boosters  is 
growing. 

Utah  produced  265,000  barrels  of  salt  in  1908, 
and  its  people  are  the  salt  of  the  earth. 

Utah  coal  mines  produced  in  1908,  1,967,651 
tons. 

There  are  2,135,000  acres  of  land  under  irri- 
gation, with  20,000,000  more  that  may  be  irri- 
gated. About  two-thirds  of  Utah's  population 
engages  in  agriculture. 

Value  of  agriculture  and  livestock  produced  in 
1908,  $50,000,000.00. 

Some  people  seem  to  think  that  by  advertising 
Salt  Lake  City  as  the  mouth  of  "Hell,"  people 
will  flock  here  to  make  their  homes.  It's  a  mean 
lie  and  a  silly  idea. 

There  are  four  first-class  theatres  in  Salt  Lake 
City  and  a  score  of  moving  picture  houses. 

The  City  and  County  building,  a  magnificent 
structure,  cost  $955,000.00. 

Salt  Lake  City  has  six  daily  newspapers  and 
ten  weeklies. 

There  are  fifteen  church  bodies  and  forty-four 
churches.  "In  my  Father's  house  are  many  man- 
sions," no  one  need  be  left  out  in  the  cold. 

Utah's  metal  output  for  1907  was  51,638r 
409.03. 

Beautiful  Liberty  Park  contains  100  acres, 


220  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

The  city's  elevation  above  the  sea  is  4,354  feet. 

Municipal  Improvements  for  1907,  $1,200,- 
000.00. 

Area  of  city,  including  reservation,  47  square 
miles. 

Five  railroads  enter  the  city. 

There  are  in  the  free  library  38,000  volumes 
(September  1st). 

Bank  clearings  in  1907,  $297,577,300.00. 

Harriman  is  with  us  and  we  have  94  miles  of 
electric  street  railroad. 

We  have  more  beautiful  women  in  Utah  in 
the  radius  of  a  ten  acre  block  than  can  be  found 
in  a  ten-mile  square  in  any  other  part  of  the 
country. 

Climate!  finest  in  all  the  world,  four  seasons, 
well  defined  and  delightfully  beautiful.  Just 
right  for  raising  sturdy  men  and  beautiful 
women. 

The  "busy  bees  in  Utah"  in  1908  made  3,000,- 
000  pounds  of  honey. 

Utah's  best  crop — Children. 


OUT  TO  OLJ  SALT  LAKE 

Nice  to  take  a  flyin'  trip 

Out  to  ol'  Salt  Lake, 

Nice  to  feel  the  "Mormon"  grip 
In  a  hearty  shake. 

Valley  blossoms  as  the  rose, 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  221 

Every  gentle  breeze  that  blows 
Some  new  floral  gems  disclose, 
Bloomin'  fur  the  cake. 

Once  it  was  a  desert  wild, 

Out  to  or  Salt  Lake, 
Foot  of  man  had  not  defiled 

Mount  or  sagey  brake. 
But  the  hosts  of  Zion  came, 
Sturdy  sire  an'  patient  dame, 
An'  in  great  Jehovah's  name 

Drove  the  progress  stake. 

Tilled  the  fields  with  brain  an'  brawn, 

Out  to  ol'  Salt  Lake, 
Wielded  from  the  early  dawn 

Plough  an'  hoe  an'  rake. 
Laughed  in  trouble's  frownin'  face, 
Kep'  their  courage  right  in  place, 
Nerve  built  on  a  solid  base 

Nothin'  couldn't  shake. 

Diff 'rent  in  these  later  days, 

Out  to  ol'  Salt  Lake, 
Songs  of  gratitude  an'  praise 

All  the  echoes  wake. 
Not  a  care  to  cloud  the  soul, 
Nothin'  bitter  in  the  bowl, 
Waves  of  plenty  seem  to  roll 

'Thout  a  painful  break. 


222  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

See  a  city  proud  an'  grand, 

Out  to  ol1  Salt  Lake, 
Nerve  an'  muscle  hand  in  hand 

Played  an'  won  the  stake. 
"Mormon"  Saints  an'  Gentiles  seem 
Hitched  up  in  a  double  team, 
Workin'  every  pound  o'  steam 

Fur  Progression's  sake. 

Cupid  doesn't  swing  his  bow 

Out  to  ol'  Salt  Lake, 
In  the  style  of  long  ago — 

Used  to  take  the  cake. 
One  good  pardner  now  appears 
Quite  enough;  the  Saintly  peers 
No  more  keep  a  herd  of  dears 

For  appearance  sake. 

Live  in  peace  an'  harmony, 

Brethren  give  an'  take, 

Very  seldom  that  you  see 
A  discordant  break. 

When  they  hear  the  final  trump, 

Mighty  apt  to  see  'em  jump 

Into  glory  in  a  lump, 

Out  to  ol'  Salt  Lake, 

— James  Barton  Adams,  in  Denver  Post. 


The  Great  Salt  Lake. 

This  body  of  water  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
world.  It  covers  two  thousand  five  hundred 
square  miles,  and  its  greatest  depth  is  about 
thirty-three  feet.  The  water  of  this  lake  carries 
about  twenty  per  cent  of  salt.  For  this  reason 
nothing  lives  in  it,  except  a  tiny  shrimp,  no  larger 
than  the  head  of  a  pin. 

This  salt  water  is  of  a  beautiful  greenish  shade, 
very  clear  and  buoyant.  Bathers  can  float  with- 
out effort — no  danger  of  drowning.  Of  course, 
you  can  strangle,  but  as  this  is  a  more  uncom- 
mon death,  we  recommend  it  as  something  nov- 
el and  new. 

It  is  an  interesting  body  of  water  and  will  ever 
be  one  of  the  curious  sights  in  Utah.  It  has  sev- 
eral inlets,  but  no  outlet,  all  the  water  that  es- 
capes being  by  evaporation. 

Upon  the  shores  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  are 
built  various  summer  resorts,  Saltair  being  the 
most  prominent.  This  resort,  however,  is  not  ex- 
actly built  upon  the  shore,  but  is  extended  by 
means  of  piers  out  into  the  water.  The  pavilion 
stands  upon  piles  about  4,000  feet  from  the 
shore  line,  and  is  said  to  be  the  largest  bathing 
pavilion  in  the  world. 


224  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Though  the  architecture  of  this  structure  is 
moorish  in  design,  it  is  serviceable  and  substan- 
tial. 

The  pavilion  cost  $350,000.00.  It's  length  is 
one  thousand  two  hundred  feet,  and  its  extreme 
width  is  three  hundred  sixty-five  feet.  The  high- 
est tower  rises  one  hundred  thirty  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  water.  The  lower  floor  is  used 
principally  for  lunching  and  refreshments.  Upon 
this  floor  we  also  find  the  various  amusements 
relative  to  a  summer  resort. 

The  upper,  or  dancing  floor,  is  one  of  the  larg- 
est in  the  world,  being  140  by  250  feet,  without 
pillar  or  obstruction  of  any  kind.  Arched  over  this 
is  an  oval  roof  similar  to  the  roof  of  the  tab- 
ernacle, but  very  much  larger.  This  immense 
arch  is  illumined  by  thousands  of  incandescent 
lights.  On  the  dancing  space,  one  thousand 
couples  can,  without  discomfiture,  trip  the  light 
fantastic  to  the  strains  of  delightful  music,  mak- 
ing a  scene  of  magnificent  splendor. 

During  the  season  of  1908  the  Saltair  manage- 
ment added  to  its  list  of  attractions,  a  ten-lap 
bicycle  track,  called  a  colliseum.  This  is  a  steel 
structure  upon  cement  piles.  The  track  proper 
is  built  upon  scientific  principles,  being  made  of 
pine,  and  each  board  is  so  laid  that  the  entire 
track  surface  is  composed  of  the  edges  instead  of 
the  broad  surfaces. 

The  roof  is  in  harmony  with  the  great  dancing 
pavilion,  the  same  arched  roof  design  being  car- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  225 

ried  out.  By  means  of  sliding  windows,  both 
people  and  track  can  be  protected  from  the 
weather. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  features  is  that  it  is 
so  brilliantly  lighted  that  one  can  see  distinctly 
every  portion  of  the  track,  riders  and  spectators. 
It  has  a  seating  capacity  of  about  5,000. 

Utah  is  justly  proud  of  beautiful  Saltair  and 
its  many  pleasing  features. 

Saltair  was  built  by  the  "Mormons." 


16 


Educational. 

Utah  is  noted  for  its  interest  in  education.  Its 
public  school  system  ranks  among  the  best  in 
America.  There  exists  a  healthy  public  school 
sentiment  from  one  end  of  the  state  to  the  other. 
This  sentiment  has  found  substantial  expression 
in  the  erection  of  school  buildings  of  the  most 
highly  approved  sanitary  plans  and  architectural 
designs,  and  in  the  payment  of  salaries  sufficient- 
ly remunerative  to  secure  a  teaching  force  of  ex- 
ceptionally high  merit.  No  effort  has  been  spared 
nor  means  withheld  which  would  contribute  to 
the  proper  education  of  the  child.  The  common 
schools  are  free  to  every  child  in  the  state  be- 
tween the  ages  of  six  and  eighteen  years,  the 
high  schools  of  the  cities  are  free  to  all  regard- 
less of  age,  and  even  the  text  books  are  free  to 
every  child  in  the  schools  of  primary  and  gram- 
mar grade.  Salt  Lake  City  possesses  twenty- 
seven  school  buildings,  which,  for  general  excel- 
lence, are  not  outclassed  in  the  United  States. 
Some  of  these  structures  have  cost  from  $75,000 
to  $125,000.  The  school  property  of  the  city  is 
valued  at  $1,550,958.24.  As  the  city  has  a 
school  population  of  twenty  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five,  it  will  be  noted  that 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  227 

about  $100  is  standing  as  a  school  invest- 
ment for  every  child  of  school  age.  Salt  Lake 
City  employs  in  the  public  schools  415  teachers. 
All  of  the  prominent  educators  of  this  country 
who  have  investigated  the  schools  of  Salt  Lake 
City  have  pronounced  them  not  only  equal  to  any 
that  exist  in  other  cities  of  America,  but  ahead 
of  nearly  all  of  them.  The  Salt  Lake  City  grade 
schools  were  awarded  a  gold  medal  at  the  Uni- 
versal Exposition  at  St.  Louis,  the  highest  award 
obtainable,  and  the  Salt  Lake  High  School  was 
awarded  a  silver  medal.  The  distinguished  su- 
perintendent of  the  public  schools  of  St.  Louis 
freely  states  that  the  Salt  Lake  schools  are  an 
example  for  the  schools  of  all  the  cities  of  the 
United  States  to  pattern  after  in  regard  to  meth- 
ods, scholastic  attainments  and  progressive  ways. 
But  it  is  not  in  Salt  Lake  City  alone  where  the 
public  school  work  has  achieved  such  marked  dis- 
tinction. The  rural  districts,  if  such  they  can  be 
called,  are  well  supplied  with  modern  buildings, 
and  with  other  necessary  facilities  for  first-class 
work.  When  the  "Mormons"  established  them- 
selves in  the  valleys  of  Utah  they  founded  their 
settlements  at  the  mouths  of  the  canyon  streams, 
and  they  had  for  their  farm'  tracts  of  land  stretch- 
ing from  those  settlements  as  far  as  the  water 
would  irrigate  the  soil.  This  plan  of  settlement 
has  prevailed  from  the  days  of  the  pioneers  until 
the  present  time,  and  it  has  resulted  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  little  cities  instead  of  large  plantations. 


228  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Most  of  the  settlements,  or  little  cities  as  they  are 
now  properly  called,  have  from  one  thousand  to 
five  thousand  inhabitants.  The  people  live  near 
to  each  other,  and  consequently  enjoy  social  and 
educational  advantages  which  sparsely  settled  re- 
gions can  not  bring  forth.  To  this  plan  of  set- 
tlement perhaps  more  than  to  any  other  one 
thing,  is  due  the  superiority  of  the  rural  schools 
of  Utah.  Even  in  the  remotest  districts,  school- 
houses  ranging  in  value  from  $5,000  to  $20,000 
are  by  no  means  uncommon.  In  the  school  sys- 
tem a  unity  runs  from  the  kindergarten  to  the 
State  University.  The  certificate  of  promotion 
from  the  eighth  grade  entitles  its  holder  to  en- 
trance in  the  public  high  school.  Likewise  the 
person  holding  the  public  high  school  certificate 
is  admitted  and  given  credit  at  the  State  Univer- 
sity for  his  work.  In  addition  to  the  schools 
enumerated  there  are  the  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, the  State  Normal  School,  the  State  School 
of  Mines,  and  the  State  School  for  the  Deaf, 
Dumb  and  Blind,  each  of  which  received  high 
recognition  at  the  St.  Louis  Exposition  by  edu- 
cational experts.  Of  private  and  denominational 
schools,  Utah  has  its  full  share.  That  they  com- 
pare most  favorably  with  the  private  schools  else- 
where is  a  matter  of  common  knowledge.  The 
charge,  therefore,  that  in  Utah  ignorance  pre- 
vails, has  but  little  effect  on  persons  familiar 
with  conditions  there.  They  know  that  such  a 
charge  is  not  substantiated  by  the  facts. 


"What  Ails  this  Town." 

NOT  UNDERSTOOD 

"Not  understood  we  move  along  asunder, 

Our  paths  grow  wider  as  the  seasons  creep 
Along  the  years ;  we  marvel  and  we  wonder 
While  life  is  life,  and  then  we  fall  asleep 
Not  understood." 

In  a  local  newspaper  there  recently  appeared  an 
article  under  the  caption,"What  Ails  this  Town?" 
We  will  grant  that  there  is  something  wrong 
with  Salt  Lake  City.  There  are  many,  perhaps, 
like  myself,  think  they  can  point  out  "What  Ails 
this  Town." 

If  we  could  all  respond  to  the  biblical  com- 
mand: "Come  let  us  reason  together,"  be  as- 
sured our  troubles  and  heart-burnings  could  all 
be  righted,  the  flower  of  friendship  would  grow 
and  blossom  in  our  hearts,  and  the  white  dove 
of  peace  would  perch  upon  the  olive  branch  with 
prosperity  and  plenty  as  our  happy  lot.  Thou- 
sands would  come  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to 
make  their  home  with  us  here  in  the  valleys  of 
Utah. 

When  we  consider  the  climate  and  the  charm- 
ing location  of  our  city,  combined  with  the  na- 


230  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

tural  advantages  with  which  we  are  blessed  and 
surrounded,  it  seems  to  me  as  though  a  song  of 
gladness  would  well  up  from  the  heart  of  every- 
one who  dwells  in  these  beautiful  valleys  under 
the  protecting  care  of  these  sublime  and  lofty 
mountains,  yet  we  are  at  sword's  points  and  daily 
a  stream  of  poisonous  tales  go  out,  all  of  which 
are  gulped  down  by  the  people  of  our  country, 
until  our  state  is  looked  upon  as  a  land  of  vice, 
viciousness  and  vulgarity,  which  is  an  absolute 
lie,  and  then  the  question  is  asked,  "What  Ails 
this  Town?" 

Under  the  present  status  of  affairs  our  city 
cannot  grow  and  thrive  as  it  naturally  should. 
The  main  trouble  that  ails  our  town,  rests  in  the 
steady  misrepresentation  by  illiberal  people, 
which  causes  continually  a  misunderstanding  be- 
tween the  people  of  the  East  and  the  "Mormon" 
people  of  the  West. 

Remove  the  cause  and  the  effect  will  be  bene- 
ficial to  us  all.  The  "Mormons"  have  for  years 
been  a  target  for  a  certain  class  of  ambitious 
rrten  whose  supposed  mission  is  that  of  love. 
They  have  been  set  apart  to  follow  the  Master, 
whose  teachings  were  of  kindness  and  non-re- 
sistance, who  proclaimed  from  the  mountain  side 
for  people  to  even  "love  their  enemies." 

Many  of  these  men  carry  the  lessons  under 
their  arms,  but  not  in  their  hearts.  In  chapter 
xviii  of  Exodus,  their  law  book,  is  found  this  ad- 
monition : 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  231 

"Thou  shalt  not  go  up  and  down  as  a  tale- 
bearer among  the  people." 

Yet  they  heed  it  not.  Men  who  have  accepted 
the  generous  hospitality  of  the  "Mormon"  peo- 
ple, men  who  have  grown  fat  and  sleek  on  Utah's 
yellow-legged  chickens,  have  made  it  a  regular 
paying  business  to  go  up  and  down  and  peddle 
the  vilest  and  silliest  stories  about  the  life  and 
history  of  Utah. 

Utah  has  been  long-suffering  and  kind,  no 
other  state  would  tolerate  without  some  resist- 
ance the  abusive  lies  continually  told.  Any  old 
"bug"  may  come  to  Salt  Lake  and  blackguard  the 
"Mormon"  people.  These  long-haired  cranks 
have  belched  forth  their  vileness  on  our  street 
corners,  and  in  their  ravings  they  have  referred 
to  an  edifice  which  is  sacred  to  many  as  "that 
rotten  temple  on  the  hill,"  and  should  a  citizen 
resent  the  insult  or  the  scandal  with  a  word,  he 
is  called  a  "Jack-Mormon,"  and  "the  church  tried 
to  suppress  free  speech,"  "a  fanatic  tried  to  break 
up  the  meeting,"  etc. 

These  are  the  troubles  which  hurt  Utah  and 
some  of  the  things  that  "ail  this  town." 

The  "Mormons"  have  borne  all  of  this  and 
for  years  have  never  said  a  word  in  resentment 
of  such  vileness.  The  people  of  the  East  are  not 
to  blame  for  the  silly  things  they  have  been  made 
to  believe  about  Utah.  They  have  heard  only  one 
side  of  the  story,  and  while  the  crowds  are  shout- 
ing "crucify,  crucify,"  it  is  a  hard  task  to  get  a 


232  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

hearing  as  to  "what  ails  this  town."  The  blight 
will  never  be  removed  until  wagging  tongues 
cease  chattering  about  other  people's  religion; 
not  until  kindness  and  reason  take  the  place  of 
anger  and  bigotry. 

Whatever  mistakes  there  may  have  been  are 
being  righted!  The  safety  of  the  people  sixty 
years  ago  depended  upon  their  unity.  There- 
fore, as  they  were  all  of  one  faith,  they,  like  the 
old  Plymouth  settlers,  joined  the  affairs  of  the 
Church  and  the  State. 

The  meeting-house  was  the  church,  the  school- 
house,  the  entertainment  hall  and  the  hall  of 
justice  in  turn,  and  high  officials  of  the  Church 
decided  questions  pertaining  to  law  and  equity. 
This  was  wise  and  good,  in  fact,  it  was  then  a 
necessity. 

The  change  from  that  condition  was  naturally 
slow.  The  battle  was  fought  and  the  war  waged 
for  many  years  on  this  question  and  that  of 
polygamy,  which  was  a  vital  principle  of  the 
"Mormon"  Church.  Since  the  manifesto  of  Pres- 
ident Woodruff  we  have  had  only  echoes  of  the 
past,  which  in  reality  are  now  barely  discernible. 

The  polygamic  question  is  righting  itself  in  an 
honorable  and  humane  way,  which  is  the  only 
way. 

The  obligations,  the  family  ties  and  the  com- 
plications of  home  affairs  can  only  be  compre- 
hended or  understood  by  people  who  think  and 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  233 

investigate,  and  there  seemingly  are  but  few  of 
these. 

No  class  of  people  could  have  righted  the  mis- 
takes of  the  past  in  a  better  and  quicker  way 
than  the  "Mormon"  people  have  done  and  are 
doing.  The  old  order  of  things  is  passing  away ; 
what  has  gone  before  is  past  worry,  let  it  go  into 
the  past.  Thinking  people  know  full  well  that 
the  results  of  a  marriage  system  lived  under  for 
sixty  years  cannot  be  obliterated,  nor  expected 
to  be,  in  eighteen  years — hence  polygamy  is  not 
dead,  but  it  is  fading  away,  dying  a  natural 
death,  but  this  fact  gives  those  who  do  not  un- 
derstand the  inner  depths  of  these  relationships 
a  basis  for  tirades  of  unkind  words  and  deeds 
against  the  "Mormon"  people.  In  my  estimation 
an  attempt  to  obliterate  the  polygamous  relation- 
ship at  one  stroke  would  be  unreasonable,  unmer- 
ciful, and  un-American. 

A  man  cannot  nor  should  not  desert  a  good 
wife  and  their  children. 

President  Joseph  F.  Smith  has  been  raked  over 
the  coals  for  telling  the  truth,  in  his  testimony,  as 
to  his  family  relationship.  He  couldn't  do  other- 
wise and  be  a  man.  The  wom'en  he  had  married 
were  his  wives,  the  children  they  have  borne  him 
were  of  his  flesh  and  blood. 

He  did  and  said  before  the  committee  what 
every  true  man  would  have  said  and  done  under 
similar  circumstances.  Of  course  it  was  a  great 


234  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

disappointment  to  the  "detectives,"  for  hundreds 
of  pages  of  typewritten  manuscript,  giving  dates, 
hours,  minutes,  etc.,  were  valueless  after  he  had 
told  the  truth.  To  some  extent  "Othello  had  lost 
his  occupation." 

MRS.   LOGAN 

Mrs.  John  A.  Logan,  I  see,  now  toddles  into 
line  and  adds  her  little  kick  to  the  rest  of  the  kicks 
against  "Smoot  and  the  Mormons."  The  good 
lady  accuses  Senator  Smoot  of  subtlety  and  train- 
ing in  the  art  of  evasion.  How  these  good  women 
do  like  to  talk  about  polygamy,  and  how  disap- 
pointed they  are  when  the  story  comes  out  with- 
out a  sensational  climax! 

The  dear  lady  rejoices  because  somebody  re- 
vealed the  secrets  of  the  endowment  house,  and 
produced,  as  she  says,  the  garments  which  are  a 
part  of  the  "iniquitous  ceremonies."  I  wonder 
whether  she  would  use  such  language  as  that 
about  a  Catholic  wearing  his  beads  or  his  cruci- 
fix. Mrs.  Logan  must  learn  that  a  person's  re- 
ligion and  the  ceremonies  of  that  religion  are  pri- 
vate property  and  sacred  to  the  holder  or  wearer ; 
she  should  learn  not  to  laugh  or  scoff  until  she  is 
ready  to  be  laughed  and  scoffed  at  herself,  even 
then  it  were  kindlier  and  more  Christianlike  to 
refrain. 

This  good  woman  gives  the  lash  to  Joseph  F. 
Smith  for  being  truthful  and  the  whip  to  Reed 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  235 

Smoot  for  being  evasive  (as  she  says),  or  for  not 
telling  the  truth.  It  is  a  case  of  "be  damned  if 
you  do  and  be  damned  if  you  don't ;"  another 
case  of  "not  understood." 

I  think  we  should  all  be  careful  of  our  derision 
of  another's  ideas  on  religion,  because  the  best, 
through  all  the  ages,  have  been  laughed  at  and 
crucified.  The  world  has  a  peculiar  fashion  of 
lashing  and  abusing  a  man  while  in  life,  then 
building  a  monument  to  him  after  death. 

Mrs.  Logan's  tirade  is  ungenerous  and  untrue. 
The  Master's  prayer  would  be  an  appropriate  an- 
swer to  her  unkindness — "Father  forgive  them, 
they  know  not  what  they  do."  The  cry  of  "tith- 
ing" is  another  awful  thing  laid  at  the  door  of  the 
"Mormon"  church ;  I  cannot  see  how  any  institu- 
tion can  run  or  exist  without  funds.  The  plan  of 
every  church  for  the  collection  of  money  is  the 
private  business  of  that  church.  The  funds  of 
the  "Mormon"  church  belong  to  the  "Mormons," 
and  it's  the  sole  business  of  the  "Mormons"  as 
to  how  they  pay  and  as  to  what  they  do  with  these 
common  funds,  and  no  one  else's.  With  all 
churches  or  societies  there  is  but  little  difference 
in  the  form  or  plan  of  collection.  When  a  wan- 
derer goes  into  a  church  (non-"Mormon")  any- 
where, a  basket  is  placed  under  his  nose  for  a 
"tip."  This  is  the  plan  of  the  church.  It  is  its 
business.  If  you  don't  like  it,  be  stingy  and 
mean,  don't  "tip."  Personally,  I  like  the  "Mor- 
mon" plan  best,  but  I  am  not  "kicking"  at  any  of 


236  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

our  ministers  for  passing  the  plate.  Ministers  and 
artists  should  all  be  well  paid,  better  than  they 
are.  The  "Mormons"  say,  "Come  and  hear  our 
sermons,  listen  to  our  music,  and  to  our  great  or- 
gan and  we  will  pay  the  bills."  One  is  always 
made  welcome.  This,  because  salvation  is  free  for 
you  and  me  from'  the  "Mormons."  There  ought 
not  to  be  any  "kick"  coming  from  anybody.  Then 
just  think  of  those  recitals  at  the  Tabernacle,  no 
plate  is  ever  passed  there. 

I  am  a  member  of  several  societies,  and  if  I  be- 
come indebted  to  the  amount  of  only  a  few  dol- 
lars the  doorkeeper  Won't  let  me  in — I  can't  even 
go  to  a  meeting.  My  lodge  franchise  is  not  in 
running  order.  Former  work  or  sacrifices  for  the 
institution  cuts  no  figure.  It's  "pay  up  or  keep 
out." 

I  have  walked  the  streets  a  stranger  in  a 
strange  city.  I  have  looked  up  to  a  beautifully 
lighted  hall,  where  laughter,  song,  and  ceremony 
were  going  on,  but  I  was  like  John  Howard 
Payne,  I  could  look  through  the  window  and 
hear  the  inmates  sing  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  but 
I  was  not  allowed  to  go  in,  because  I  hadn't  paid 
my  tithing  "dues,"  in  fact  didn't  have  anything  to 
pay  with,  therefore  I  was  banished.  Each  man 
must  be  subject  to  the  laws,  rules  and  regulations 
of  the  church  or  society ;  if  he  cannot  be,  then  he 
should  pay  up  and  quit,  or  be  marked  "S.  N. 
P.  D." 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  23? 

"Why  fret  that  human  minds  should  be  so  narrow, 
Prepare  the  yielding  soil  with  wisdom's  harrow, 
Then  sow  good  seed  from  knowledge  we  can  borrow 
And  see  a  better  state  of  things  tomorrow." 

TIPS  AND  TITHING. 

Why  should  press,  pulpit  and  people  make  such 
a  fuss  about  the  "Mormons,"  and  shout,  "Why, 
don't  you  know,  in  Utah  they  make  the  Mor- 
mons pay  tithing?  Isn't  that  awful !" 

The  "Mormon"  church,  in  my  estimation,  is  a 
very  good  institution,  kind  and  charitable  to  its 
members ;  like  any  other,  I  supposet  it  makes  mis- 
takes. Who  doesn't?  And  then  who  should  be 
the  judge?  Its  creed  is  as  good  as  any  other,  if 
not  an  improvement  on  many. 

Its  leaders  are  kindly  and  earnest  men,  and 
have  been  selected  by  three  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  people  to  fill  the  positions  they  occupy. 
Friends,  stop  your  "kicking,"  be  thinkers;  ac- 
cord to  every  man  the  same  right  you  claim  for 
yourself.  Your  neighbor  has  as  much  right  to  be 
a  "Mormon"  as  you  have  not  to  be  one. 

LINCOLN    AND   THE    JACKASS 

The  fuss  being  made  by  the  "kickers"  of  Utah 
reminds  me  of  a  Lincoln  story.  When  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  running  for  Congress  on  the  Whig 
ticket  in  1854,  in  the  old  Sangamon,  Illinois  dis- 
trict, there  were  a  few  "kickers"  in  his  party. 

In  the  course  of  a  speech  he  illustrated  the  state 


238  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

of  his  mind  on  this  subject  by  telling  the  story  of 
a  jackass  he  owned,  when  a  young  man.  He 
said: 

"The  case  of  that  jackass  was  most  singular. 
When  everything  was  pleasant  all  around  he 
would  kick  the  worst.  When  his  rack  was  fullest 
and  his  stall  fixed  with  new  straw  and  everything 
real  comfortable,  that  jackass  would  start  in  on 
the  almightiest  spell  of  kicking  that  was  ever 
seen.  All  the  veterinary  surgeons  in  the  neigh- 
bohood  came  around  and  tried  to  find  out  just 
what  made  the  critter  kick  so.  They  never  could 
agree  about  it.  One  thing  we  all  noticed  was 
that  he  always  brayed  and  kicked  at  the  same 
time. 

''Sometimes  he  would  bray  first  and  then  kick, 
but  other  times  he  would  kick  first  and  then  bray, 
so  that  confused  us,  and  nobody  in  that  whole 
country  was  ever  able  to  find  out  whether  that 
jackass  was  braying  at  his  own  kick  or  kicking 
at  his  own  brays." 

What  ails  this  town?  The  fight  has  been  on 
the  "Mormons"  now  for  about  seventy-five  years ; 
still  they  live. 

Now,  "kickers,"  come  off;  get  a  new  deal;  let 
the  "Mormons"  alone,  for  awhile  at  least.  Tackle 
somebody  else,  if  you  must  be  a  "kicker,"  but  for 
heaven's  sake  have  a  change  and  realize  if  you 
can  what  has  "ailed  this  town."  If  a  man  is  dis- 
fellowshipped  from  the  church,  or  if  a  supplication 
in  earnest  prayer  is  given,  for  God  to  bless  the 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  230 

President  or  statesmen  of  our  nation  or  state  it  is 
heralded  as  an  outrage.  Another  crime  is  laid  at 
the  door  of  the  "Mormon"  church.  All  the  high- 
sounding  phrases  of  political  interference,  etc., 
are  scattered  broadcast — "Suppression  of  free 
speech,  free  press,"  etc.,  although  the  matter  is  a 
private  one  and  ought  to  be  kept  as  such. 

Because  the  people  of  the  East  are  misinformed 
as  to  the  "Mormon"  question  and  as  to  the  life  of 
the  people  of  Utah,  because  of  the  continuous 
growling  and  "kicking"  of  non-thinkers  and  dis- 
gruntled politicians,  because  of  the  public  clamor 
now  going  on  against  the  Church  and  Senator 
Smoot,  and  because  many  of  the  people  of  Salt 
Lake  are  "knockers"  to  their  own  city,  rather 
than  "boosters,"  is  "What  Ails  this  Town." 

"O  God,  that  men  would  see  a  little  clearer 

Or  judge  less  harshly  where  they  cannot  see; 
Oh  God,  that  men  might  draw  a  little  nearer 
To  one  another  they'd  be  nearer  Thee— 
And  understood." 


OH,  MY  FATHER 

(The  Latter-day  Saints'  favorite  hymn,  by  Eliza  R. 
Snow,  a  "Mormon"  poetess.) 

Oh,  my  Father,  Thou  that  dwellest 
In  the  high  and  glorious  place ! 

When  shall  I  regain  Thy  presence 
And  again  behold  Thy  face? 


240  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

In  Thy  holy  habitation, 
Did  my  spirit  once  reside? 

In  my  first  primeval  childhood, 
Was  I  nurtured  near  Thy  side? 

For  a  wise  and  glorious  purpose 

Thou  hast  placed  me  here  on  earth, 
And  withheld  the  recollection 

Of  my  former  friends  and  birth. 
Yet  oft-times  a  secret  something 

Whispered,  "You're  a  stranger  here," 
And  I  felt  that  I  had  wandered 

From  a  more  exalted  sphere. 

I  had  learned  to  call  Thee  Father 

Through  Thy  spirit  from  on  high ; 
But,  until  the  key  of  knowledge 

Was  restored,  I  knew  not  why. 
In  the  Heavens  are  parents  single? 

No ;  the  thought  makes  reason  stare ! 
Truth  is  reason ;  truth  eternal 

Tells  me  I've  a  mother  there. 

When  I  leave  this  frail  existence, 

When  I  lay  this  mortal  by, 
Father,  mother,  may  I  meet  you 

In  your  royal  courts  on  high? 
Then  at  length  when  I've  completed 

All  you  sent  me  forth  to  do, 
With  your  mutual  approbation, 

Let  me  come  and  dwell  with  you. 


A  Picture  Beautiful. 

Long  shall  I  remember  an  evening  spent  in 
a  Utah  Valley  not  long  since.  It  was  an  evening 
of  exceptional  beauty.  The  gold  of  the  sun  that 
had  all  day  bathed  the  yellow  fields  of  grain  in 
yellower  light,  and  glancing  through  the  smil- 
ing orchards  had  revealed  the  crimson  of  apple, 
the  purple  of  plum  and  the  yellow  of  pear,  try- 
ing in  vain  to  hide  beneath  the  leaves  of  their 
low-hanging,  overburdened  respective  trees,  had 
touched  here  and  there  the  vine-embowered 
homes  of  the  farmers,  now  gradually  changed 
to  crimson,  and  flaunting  its  brilliant  signal  of 
rest  and  night  in  the  west,  had  changed  the 
blue  of  the  mountains  to  delicate  pink.  The 
twilight  threw  its  shadows  along  the  foot  of 
the  grand  old  Wasatch.  The  tall  trees  swayed 
gently  to  and  fro  in  the  quiet  breeze.  The 
scent  of  the  new-mown  hay  diffused  its  sweet 
fragrance  through  the  atmosphere;  here  and 
there  rippled  tiny  streams. 

Quiet  herds  grazed  peacefully  in  the  meadow, 
or  were  being  driven,  lowing,  homeward  toward 
the  picturesque  farm-houses  of  the  comfortable 
and  contented  "tillers  of  the  soil."  The  sky  pic- 
tures of  ever-changing,  vari-colored  clouds  set- 

17 


242  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

ting  off  the  sombre  hills,  made  it  a  scene  beyond 
all  description.  The  glow  faded  in  the  west  and 
a  milder  radiance  glowed  in  the  east,  as  the  pale 
moon  now  slowly  rose.  Moonlight  and  twilight 
met  and  mixed,  and  ere  long  night,  with  her  at- 
tendant stars,  was  queen  of  the  valley.  I  could 
imagine  the  husbandman  and  his  loved  ones  lulled 
to  sleep  by  nature's  own  sweet  song — the  lullaby 
of  sighing  winds,  rustling  trees,  waving  grain 
and  babbling  brooks.  We  will  leave  them  freed 
from  strife  and  the  turmoil  of  city  life  to  their 
well-earned  rest  after  a  days  toil. 

JUDGE  FOR  YOURSELF 

Friends,  come  to  Utah  and  enjoy  a  glorious 
climate,  which  is  unsurpassed  under  Heaven ; 
where  the  air  is  so  pure  and  clear  that  a  moun- 
tain forty  miles  away  looks  only  ten,  and  an  old 
maid  of  forty  summers  looks  only  eighteen.  I 
cannot  give  you  even  a  shadow  of  the  reality  in 
a  description.  You  should  go  to  Utah  and  see 
the  country  and  meet  the  people  and  judge  for 
yourselves.  There  are  charms  and  attractions 
enough  to  justify  you  in  taking  the  trip.  It  is 
not  an  expensive  one.  You  will  see  and  learn 
something  of  what  the  United  States  contains 
in  natural  beauty  and  wonderful  wealth  resources. 


Old  Folks'  Day. 

I  want  to  tell  you  of  the  health-giving  prop- 
erties of  Utah's  climate  and  atmosphere,  and  of 
the  longevity  of  its  residents.  In  four  of  Utah's 
counties  there  are  thirteen  hundred  people  over 
seventy  years  of  age,  and  one-third  of  these  are 
over  eighty.  In  Salt  Lake  City  alone  there  are 
eight  hundred  persons  over  seventy,  three  there- 
of who  are  ninety-seven,  one  who  is  one  hundred, 
and  six  averaging  from  ninety  to  ninety-three 
years  of  age.  Utah  pays  great  respect  to  its 
aged,  and  a  very  beautiful  custom  has  been 
handed  down  and  preserved  from  the  early  days, 
and  that  is  the  yearly  habit  of  having  a  free  ex- 
cursion for  the  "old  folks"  of  Utah,  over  seventy. 
All  railroads,  street  cars  and  places  of  amusement 
are  open  to  them  free  of  charge.  One  picnic  day 
is  exclusively  set  apart  for  them.  An  extract 
from  the  invitation  to  the  old  folks  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

"All  strangers  or  visitors  to  this  city  (meaning 
Salt  Lake  City),  aged  seventy  or  upwards,  are 
invited  to  participate  on  this  grand  occasion.  No 
lines  are  drawn,  no  distinctions  as  to  race,  faith 
or  color  made.  All  are  welcome." 


244  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Aside  from  this  custom  being  a  beautiful  sen- 
timent, it  is  a  living  object  lesson  to  the  young, 
of  that  biblical  commandment,  "Honor  thy  father 
and  thy  mother,"  and  no  more  touching  picture 
was  ever  ready  for  the  artist's  deft  pencil  than 
that  of  a  venerable  old  man,  or  sweet-faced  old 
lady,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  a  sturdy  youth, 
his  stalwart  frame,  his  steady  arm,  brown  locks, 
and  undimmed  eye  making  a  splendid  foil  for  the 
bent  form,  tottering  steps  and  silver  locks  of  his 
aged  burden. 

On  "Old  Folks'  Day,"  as  it  is  called,  a  lady 
of  one  hundred  summers  is  the  belle  of  the  ball, 
and  has  the  seat  of  honor  at  the  banquet. 

OUR  OWN  HOME  PEOPLE 

By  Rev.  Levi  Gilbert,  D.  D. 

How  beautiful  is  old  age  in  the  life  of  the 
home!  What  would  our  homes  be  without  the 
little  children  on  the  one  hand  and  the  white- 
haired  grandfather  and  grandmother  on  the 
other?  Despite  the  personal  quaintness  and  the 
old-fashioned  ways,  over  which  we  may  smile 
in  good  humor,  no  loss  would  be  greater  than 
the  absence  of  those  who,  like  the  last  leaf  upon 
the  tree,  are  clinging  to  old,  forsaken  boughs, 
and  who  are  only  waiting  till  the  shadows  are 
a  little  longer  grown. 

How  beautiful  is  it  to  see  the  husband  and 
wife  growing  old  together,  assimilating  each 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  245 

other's  virtues,  becoming  more  and  more  alike  in 
every  characteristic,  and  pathetically  holding  to 
each  other !  Earth  has  few  more  lovely  and  touch- 
ing sights  than  that  which  Burns  celebrates : 

JOHN   ANDERSON,    MY   JO 

"John  Anderson,  my  Jo,  John, 

When  we  were  first  acquent, 
Your  locks  were  like  the  raven, 

Your  bonnie  brow  was  brent; 
But  now  your  brow  is  beld,  John, 

Your  locks  are  like  the  snaw; 
But  blessings  on  your  frosty  pow, 

John  Anderson,  my  Jo. 

''John  Anderson,  my  Jo,  John, 
We  clamb  the  hill  thegither ; 
And  monie  a  canty  day,  John, 
We've  had  wi'  ane  anither. 
Now  we  maun  totter  down,  John, 

But  hand  in  hand  we'll  go, 

And  sleep  thegither  at  the  foot, 

John  Anderson,  my  Jo." 


Lake  and  Climate. 

Fairer  than  any  other  State  in  America,  or  any 
land  under  Heaven,  is  Utah.  Her  scenery  is 
more  majestic  than  that  of  Switzerland.  From 
extreme  north  to  extreme  south  extends  a  chain 
of  valleys  gemmed  with  lakes,  wherein  every 
pastoral  picture  ever  seen  or  sung  is  reproduced. 
Glistening  on  her  bosom  is  the  fairest  jewel,  that 
marvel  of  the  world,  the  Dead  Sea  of  America — 
Great  Salt  Lake.  This  inland  sea  gives  to  the 
Utahns  all  the  bracing  saline  atmosphere  of 
ocean  regions,  combined  with  the  clear  high  alti- 
tude and  pure,  pine-scented  breezes  of  a  moun- 
tainous country.  I  could  not  so  well  describe  the 
beauties  of  this  inland  sea,  as  the  pen  of  an  un- 
known writer  thus  describes: 

"For  those  in  search  of  health  and  novelty  no 
more  attractive  feature  can  be  found  here  or 
elsewhere  than  the  new  world's  greatest  marvel, 
the  Great  Salt  Lake.  -The  beneficial  and  pleas- 
urable effects  of  a  bath  in  this  inland  sea  are  so 
unique  that  none  with  the  necessary  leisure  can 
afford  to  debar  themselves  from  its  enjoyment. 
It  is  an  experience  that  will  enrich  the  inner  life 
of  all  who  undergo  it,  an  experience  that  will  live 
longer  in  the  memory  than  any  wandering  in 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  247 

foreign  lands,  to  float  on  the  buoyant  waters  of 
this  miniature  ocean,  like  the  flotsam  and  jetsam 
of  the  greater  seas,  with  a  sense  of  perfect  secur- 
ity and  strange  exhiliration. 

"But  this  pleasure  is  not  the  only  object  of  a 
journey  to  the  shores  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake; 
the  marvelous  beauty  of  its  environments,  the 
exquisite  coloring  of  the  far-off  mountains  that 
fringe  its  western  brink  and  rise  mellowed  by 
distance,  into  softest  tints,  from  its  cool,  irrides- 
cent  depths.  The  massive  grandeur  of  the  nearer 
snow-capped  range  that  stretches  from  the  north- 
ern or  the  southern  horizon,  and  shelters  the 
fragrant  valleys  from  the  blasts  of  winter  and 
heats  of  summer ;  the  green,  inviting  canyons  that 
seam  its  side  and  lead  through  the  mighty  hills  to 
a  fairyland  of  eternal  verdure,  rushing  streams, 
water-falls  and  shady  coolness.  These  and  other 
innumerable  charms  offer  themselves  alike  to 
resident  and  stranger,  sinner,  saint  and  pilgrim." 


The  Grasshoppers: 

A  Reminiscence. 

About  the  year  1850,  the  spring  opened  fair 
and  beautiful,  and  everybody  predicted  a  plenti- 
ful harvest.  In  the  month  of  April  the  gardens 
were  flourishing  and  the  fields  had  put  on  their 
brightest  green  and  everybody  was  rejoicing.  In 
the  latter  part  of  May  came  vast  clouds  of  grass- 
hoppers. They  came  over  the  hills  from  the 
north  in  .a  solid  black  mass,  darkening  the  earth 
in  their  passage.  They  left  nothing  in  their 
wake;  not  a  blade  of  grass  nor  a  leaf  remained. 
The  country  they  traversed  looked  as  though  it 
had  been  swept  by  a  scorching  fire.  One  could 
not  step  without  crushing  as  many  grasshoppers 
as  the  foot  would  cover.  People  dug  canals  and 
filled  them  with  water  to  prevent  the  onward 
march  of  the  grasshoppers,  but  in  spite  of  this 
these  pests  would  cross  the  streams.  It  was  an 
imposibility  to  combat  them.  From'  a  manu- 
script of  that  time  I  will  quote : 

"The  grasshoppers  apparently  do  not  know 
where  to  light.  The  other  day  part  of  their 
number  dropped  into  the  lake  and  were  blown 
ashore  by  the  wind  in  rows  of  sometimes  two  feet 
deep  for  a  distance  of  two  miles." 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  249 

The  settlers  were  in  despair  when  from  over 
the  Great  Salt  Lake  came  myriads  of  snow-white 
birds,  in  such  appalling  numbers  that  the  already 
desperate  people  believed  God  had  visited  another 
plague  upon  them.  Upon  closer  acquaintance, 
however,  these  feathered  creatures  proved  to  be 
messengers  of  hope,  the  sea  gulls,  coming  from 
no  one  knew  where.  These  birds  pounced  upon 
the  devastating  grasshoppers,  seizing  and  swal- 
lowing them,  then  flying  back  to  the  shores  of  the 
lake  to  disgorge.  It  was  something  like  the 
old  story  of  the  "Boys  and  the  Frogs,"  fun  for 
the  "Mormons"  and  the  sea  gulls,  but  hell  for 
the  grasshoppers.  There  is  in  Utah  a  law  which 
imposes  a  fine  of  twenty-five  dollars  for  killing  a 
sea  gull.  This  makes  them  very  tame.  It  is  a 
very  pretty  sight  to  see  them  come  in  small  flocks 
and  wait  for  the  refuse  from  the  tables  at  the 
lake  resorts,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  sight  to  see 
them  follow  the  plow,  riding  on  the  horses'  backs 
and  even  on  men's  shoulders,  and  ridding  the 
newly-turned  earth  of  insects  which  may  infest 
it.  Every  Utahn  who  loves  his  state  will  doff  his 
hat  to  a  sea  gull. 


The  State  Emblem. 

The  Sego  Lily. 

This  beautiful  flower  has  three  petals,  pure 
white,  streaked  with  dark  brown  at  the  center. 
It  grows  in  rocky  places  'mid  the  sagebrush, 
where  other  flowers  are  afraid  to  lift  their  heads. 
It  beautifies  and  cheers  the  barren  spots,  even  as 
its  roots  succored  and  sustained  the  pioneers  in 
their  barren  and  darkened  hour. 

The  early  settlers  were  reduced  to  great  straits 
before  their  farms  gave  them  back  harvests  for 
their  unremitting  toil.  They  were  forced  to  sub- 
sist upon  the  root  of  the  sego  lily,  the  food  prop- 
erties of  which  were  learned  from  the  Indians. 


Sunny  Side  of  Life. 

To  the  Editor: 

I  have  read  with  much  interest  your  optimistic 
article  in  your  issue  of  the  24th  instant,  under  the 
caption,  "Truth  and  Falsehood."  Important 
truths  are  conveyed  in  the  sentences  you  so  beau- 
tifully build.  Falsehoods  are — "passing  clouds." 
"They  pour  out  their  contents  and  are  no  more." 
They  obscure  the  sun  for  a  moment,"  only.  They 
"are  but  a  temporary  effect."  But,  in  reading 
this  truth,  it  struck  me  that  there  is  another 
equally  important  truth  which  should  be 
kept  in  mind  just  now;  and  that  is  that  it  is 
our  duty  to  fight  falsehood  and  defend  truth 
with  all  the  means  at  our  command,  for  only  so 
can  truth  be  vindicated.  The  friends  of  truth 
should  be  as  active,  and  as  sacrificing  as  are 
those  who  "love  and  make  a  lie." 

I  appreciate  your  optimistic  view.  I  prefer, 
myself,  to  believe  in  and  to  live  on  the  sunny 
side  of  life,  but  to  understand  and  comprehend 
the  strength  of  a  lie  is  a  necessary  adjunct  in 
one's  education.  Through  not  realizing  the  pow- 
er of  a  lie,  the  people  of  Utah  have  allowed  the 
blackest  kind  of  a  lie  cloud  to  be  gathered,  which 


252  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

now  hangs  over  them  like  a  pall.  To  know  the 
power  of  an  enemy  is  half  the  battle  fought.  We 
are  often  led  into  error  by  not  realizing  the  dan- 
gers about  us.  Many  rely  on  truth  as  a  prin- 
ciple, because  it  is  truth,  believing  it  will  fight  its 
own  battles  without  human  aid.  This  is  a  great 
mistake. 

There  are  many  souls  who  live  in  peace  and  re- 
joice in  their  self-content.  They  forget  the  world 
with  its  sorrows  and  its  struggles,  and  put  forth 
no  effort  toward  peace  and  harmony  for  their 
fellowmen. 

We  must  guard  against  the  blindness  as  illus- 
trated by  the  story  of  a  wealthy  woman  who,  on  a 
cold  day  had  been  driven  home  in  a  fine  carriage, 
wrapped  in  richest  furs  and  costly  robes.  The 
cold  was  so  intense  that  with  all  her  comforts  she 
realized  that  the  day  was  cold,  dark  and  dreary. 
As  the  lady  entered  her  mansion  she  called  to  the 
coachman  to  come  in  after  luncheon,  saying  that 
they  would  make  a  list  of  names  of  the  poor  of 
the  village  and  send  some  coal  and  pro- 
visions to  all  those  in  need  during  such  stormy 
weather. 

The  lady  dined  by  a  glowing  fire  in  a  bright 
and  cheery  room,  surrounded  by  every  physical 
comfort.  No  wonder  she  forgot  all  those  out- 
side, eh? 

After  awhile  the  coachman  came  for  the  "ames 
to  whom  coal  and  food  should  be  sent.  The  lady, 
with  a  languid  air,  answered,  "You  needn't  trou- 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  253 

ble,  John ;  it  is  much  warmer  now."  So  it  is  with 
people  who  live  for  self.  Eternal  vigilance  is 
the  price  of  liberty,  and  also  of  truth.  A  lie  is 
seemingly  as  potent  as  the  truth,  especially  in 
individual  life.  You  speak  of  the  lamented  Wm. 
McKinley  and  ask:  "Who  remembers  the  va- 
porings  of  the  traducers  of  that  great  Ameri- 
can?" My  dear,  sir,  those  traducers  are  at  work 
on  somebody  else  now.  They  are  not  dead — Wm. 
McKinley  is  dead.  He  lost  his  precious  life  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  and  for  years  his  poor 
wrecked  widow  sat  moaning  and  dying  by  a 
broken,  lonely  fireside,  until  the  light  failed. 
Those  who  traduced  Mr.  McKinley  are  appar- 
ently happy.  Several  men  got  rich  in  this  world's 
goods  by  painting  McKinley's  friend,  Mark 
Hanna,  as  a  devilish  monstrosity.  These  artists 
are  still  rich,  feted  and  honored  wherever  they 
go.  Apparently  the  lie  is  the  thing  for  worldly 
success.  The  Quakers  were  swept  off  the  earth 
by  liars.  The  Quakers  were  gentle,  kind,  and 
honest.  Through  a  lie,  the  Jews  have  been  driven 
and  scattered  to  the  four  corners  of  the  earth, 
because  they  were  accused  of  the  crucifixion  of 
Christ  and  because  Shakespeare  wrote  a  dramatic 
character  and  placed  it  on  a  Jew  and  called  it 
Shylock.  And  thus  'falsehood  apparently  tri- 
umphs. 

I  salute  France  for  righting  the  awful  wrong 
done  by  a  lie,  to  Dreyfus.  But  if  not  for  that 
faithful  wife  of  his  and  his  two  friends,  Maj. 


254  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Piquart  and  Emile  Zola,  Dreyfus  would  today  be 
on  devil's  island  or  in  his  grave. 

Grover  Cleveland  had  one  of  the  worst  doses 
of  lies  that  has  ever  been  handed  to  a  man,  but 
he  lived  through  it.  I'm  glad  of  it.  And  he  died 
respected,  by  the  thinkers  of  America. 

It  is  understood  in  the  eastern  states  that  the 
word  "Mormon"  stands  for  everything  that  is 
vile  and  bestial.  This  lie  has  been  told  and  told 
until  it  is  a  power  in  the  land,  this  slander  is 
now  seventy-five  years  old — it  is  not  a  passing 
cloud  either.  The  wrong  already  done  to  Utah 
and  her  people  cannot  be  repaired  in  a  short  time. 

The  sad  part  of  it  is :  The  Utah  people  don't 
realize  their  position  nor  do  they  battle  against 
the  wrong  and  for  the  right. 

Many  people  seem  to  think  that  right  will 
come  to  the  top  for  principle's  sake,  unaided,  but 
it  won't.  A  lie  may  lose  out  in  the  hereafter,  but 
it  seldom  does  in  the  now. 

Error  dresses  in  fascinating  garb,  and  is  al- 
ways a  welcome  guest. 

There  is  a  strong  suggestion  of  an  affinity  be- 
tween error  and  the  human  mind,  and  when  it 
once  attaches  itself  to  its  object,  it  fights  hard 
for  the  exclusion  of  anything  else. 

The  work  of  righting  a  wrong  after  so  many 
years  of  journeying  is  no  small  task. 

My  ideals  are  those,  and  I  hold  them  up  to  my 
sons,  who  were  crucified,  hung,  pulled  to  pieces 
on  the  rack  and  burned  at  the  stake  for  mental 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  255 

liberty  and  truth's  sake.  I  am  a  friend  to  the 
man  who  is  blackguarded  and  abused. 

He  is  my  choice,  alive  or  dead,  and  he  will 
always  have  my  vote  or  my  veneration. 
Ninety-nine  times  in  a  hundred  the  abused  is 
right.  Let  me  ask  which  is  nearer  the  Master, 
the  abused  or  the  abuser — "Dr.  Jekyl  or  Mr. 
Hyde?"  A  lie  is  the  deadliest  foe  to  happiness, 
to  knowledge  and  to  truth. 

All  wickedness  springs  from  ignorance.  This 
it  is  that  makes  men  sin.  Wisdom  doesn't  allow 
it. 

The  whole  world  is  seeking  happiness  and  few 
there  be  that  find  it,  because  they  dont'  know 
how. 

True  happiness  comes  from  within,  not  from 
without.  It  comes  by  soul-growth — development 
of  heart  and  brain. 

Schools  should  be  established  to  teach  the  prin- 
ciples of  honesty,  of  brotherhood,  of  the  Golden 
Rule.  Over  the  archway  shall  be  inscribed  "How 
to  live  and  act  on  earth." 

TRIFLES 

Since  trifles  make  the  sum  of  human  things, 
And  half  our  misery  from  our  foibles  springs ; 
Since  life's  best  joys  consist  in  peace  and  ease, 
And  though  but  few  can  serve,  yet  all  can  please ; 
Oh,  let  the  ungentle  spirit  learn  from  hence, 
A  small  unkindness  is  a  great  offense. 

— Hannah  Mare, 


Out  in  the  Desert. 

FRIENDSHIP 

Friendship  is  the  sweetest  flower  that  grows 
in  the  garden  of  life ;  its  soil  is  the  human  heart ; 
it  is  planted  by  honest  thought,  nurtured  by  the 
tears  of  sympathy,  kept  alive  by  the  breath  of 
good  wishes. 

Dear  Reader: 

Wishing  to  give  you  as  near  as  possible  a  de- 
tailed account  of  crossing  the  plains  fifty  years 
ago,  my  old  friend  Walter  L.  Price,  who  made  the 
journey  as  described,  related  to  me  his  experi- 
ences of  old  time  "Mormon"  travel  to  Utah.  I 
have  embodied  his  story  in  the  following  letter, 
which  I  believe  you  will  find  deeply  interesting: 

Dear  Friend  Meakin: 

Come  and  travel  an  imaginary  journey  with  me 
to  Utah,  not  in  a  Pullman  coach,  with  stateroom 
and  diner  combined  and  with  black  servants  to 
bow  and  wait  on  every  wish,  not  a  bit  of  it;  I 
mean  an  old  time  pioneer  trip  across  the  plains 
and  over  mountains,  writh  oxen  as  the  motive 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  257 

power,  dragging  prairie  schooners  behind  them. 
Just  as  we  did  fifty  years  ago,  when  I  crossed 
the  plains. 

I  was  only  a  boy,  but  I  made  the  trip  and 
walked  nearly  all  the  way,  and  had  a  good  time. 
I  remember  every  phase  of  our  pioneer  life.  The 
requisites  for  the  journey  are  good  nature,  a 
spirit  of  helpfulness,  with  an  abundance  of  faith 
and  hope  springing  eternally  in  the  human 
breast.  Should  any  one  make  a  similar  journey 
and  not  have  these  natural  gifts,  I  say,  "God 
pity  them !" 

Somebody  has  said : 

"This  world  is  not  so  bad  a  world 
As  some  would  try  to  make  it; 
But  whether  good  or  whether  bad     - 
Depends  on  how  we  take  it." 

This  couplet  is  mighty  applicable  to  the  neces- 
sary status  of  the  human  mind,  when  on  a  jour- 
ney like  the  one  we  are  about  to  make. 

We  left  the  Missouri  River  on  the  4th  of  May. 
It  was  a  beautiful  day,  and  everybody  was  joy- 
ous and  hopeful. 

In  our  company  there  were  about  four  hundred 
souls.  These  were  divided  into  parties,  say  of 
fifty,  with  a  sub-captain  in  charge  of  each,  and 
a  captain  general  over  all. 

To  each  wagon  were  assigned  from  ten  to 
twelve  people,  which  meant  walk,  walk,  walk  for 
18 


258  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

the  strong  and  very  often  for  the  weak.  To  each 
tent  were  from  fifteen  to  eighteen,  size  of  tent 
10x12.  Now  just  imagine  the  conveniences  in 
calm  and  stormy  weather,  for  a  crowd  of  people 
to  live  together  under  such  conditions  during  a 
four-months'  tour  on  the  plains.  If  anyone  wants 
to  learn  the  disposition,  the  goodness  and  the 
meanness  of  people,  just  travel  with  them  and 
you  will  get  educated  good  and  plenty.  Imagine 
the  cranks,  the  grumblings,  the  hardships,  the 
sickness,  the  despair  and  the  heart  longings  for 
the  old  home,  old  scenes,  old  songs  and  old  asso- 
ciates. Every  day  we  pushed  out  a  little  further 
into  the  desert,  realizing  that  every  hour  left 
a  longer  space  between  us  and  civilization. 

At  times  we  would  sense  our  loneliness  and  feel 
that  we  were  leaving  all  hope  behind  us.  Only 
faith  in  God  and  our  religion  kept  our  spirits 
brave  and  our  hearts  in  tune  with  love  of  life. 

We  traveled  from  fifteen  to  thirty-five  miles 
each  day,  the  distance  being  governed  by  finding 
of  springs  or  rivers,  for  without  water  all  would 
perish.  Our  train  stretched  for  about  a  half  mile 
in  length,  and  made  a  weird  and  grand  picture, 
as  it  slowly  wended  its  way  along  the  sandy 
plains  and  rocky  steeps. 

Our  faces  were  turned  toward  the  west,  and 
we  appreciated  the  sunshine  and  the  beautiful 
golden  sunsets,  but  at  times  the  sun  was  so  glar- 
ing and  hot  that  it  burned  our  faces,  blinded  our 
eyes,  and  tanned  our  skin. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  259 

Shakespeare  said: 

"There  are  tongues  in  trees, 
Books  in  the  running  brooks, 
Sermons  in  stones, 
And  good  in  everything." 

I  have  learned  that  extremes  are  bad  in  every- 
thing; hence  I  aim  "to  keep  in  the  middle  of  the 
road." 

A  dozen  sturdy  men,  brave  and  fearless,  pilot- 
ed the  train,  with  every  faculty,  both  physical 
and  mental,  alert  to  guard  the  wandering  pil- 
grims from  harm  by  wild  beasts  and  still  more 
dangerous,  cunning,  painted  savages. 

Far  away  into  the  land  of  nowhere,  stretched 
the  alkali  plains,  bleak  and  bare,  grassless,  tree- 
less, and  flowerless.  The  crunching  of  the  wheels 
and  the  whizzing  of  the  blacksnake  whip  added 
to  the  solitude  and  awful  desolation  of  the  scene. 

All  day,  at  times,  the  wind  would  be  at  our 
backs  and  the  rocking  old  oxen  would  be  urged 
on  through  one  continuous  cloud  of  dust,  we 
weary,  footsore  and  ill,  and  such  a  sight.  When 
toward  the  dusk  of  evening,  the  captain  would 
call  a  halt  for  the  night,  a  shout  of  joy  would 
go  up  to  heaven  for  the  safety  of  the  day  and  for 
sweet  rest  of  the  night. 

These  pilgrims  looked  more  like  modern, 
weather-beaten  tramps  than  a  band  of  Saints. 
To  wash  our  faces  was  a  delight,  and  to  bathe 
our  bodies  was  a  luxury,  and  luxuries  were  few. 


260  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

Week  after  week  we  kept  going  on  this  lonely, 
silent  march.  In  sunshine  or  in  rain  we  tramped, 
tramped,  tramped,  forded  rivers,  climbed  the 
mountains,  winding  down  the  canyons  over  hills 
and  dales  and  again  into  the  broad  expanse  of  al- 
kali plains.  This  monotony  was  at  times  broken 
by  beautiful  scenery,  cozy  nooks  and  babbling 
brooks.  Nature  would  smile  and  speak  a  varied 
language,  cheering  us  on  and  on,  and  we  would 
sing  and  shout  hosannah,  "Let  Zion  in  her  beauty 
rise." 

I  do  not  wish  to  convey  the  thought  that  we 
had  no  pleasure  on  our  way.  I  tell  you,  we  had 
stacks  of  fun.  I  shall  ever  treasure  the  mem- 
ory of  my  boyhood  on  the  plains,  as  a  precious 
gem  in  the  golden  casket  of  the  mind,  for  joys 
and  sorrows  were  blended  beautifully. 

At  eve,  when  the  circle  camp  had  been  formed 
we  boys  had  to  hustle  for  buffalo  chips  for  the 
camp  fires. 

System  in  every  detail  brought  us  a  fair  de- 
gree of  harmony  and  all  success.  Certain  ones 
were  designated  for  various  kinds  of  work,  oxen 
tenders,  fire  builders,  wagon  greasers,  teamsters, 
cooks,  tin-washers,  bed-makers,  watchmen,  sen- 
tinels, elders,  leaders  in  song,  doctors,  etc.,  etc. 

After  the  evening  meal,  if  not  too  late,  or  the 
travelers  not  too  tired,  talk  about  your  vaudeville 
stunts.  I  tell  you  they  are  not  in  it  when  com- 
pared with  a  pioneer  show  on  an  alkali  plain 
stage,  the  curtain  being  the  blue  sky,  pinned 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  261 

back  by  the  stars.  The  entertainment  would  con- 
sist of  sentiment,  song,  story  and  music,  with  an 
all-star  cast. 

After  singing,  then  would  come  one  of  the 
daring,  sensational  acts,  by  Indians,  piercing  an 
English  sixpence  with  an  arrow  shot  from  a  bow 
one  hundred  feet  away.  This  and  similar  won- 
derful acts  by  friendly  savages. 

Next  would  come  the  English  boy  with  his  con- 
certina, with  its  cat  calls  and  drawn-out  tunes, 
with  waving  expressions  of  lamentations  by 
swinging  the  instrument  in  mid  air  and  cutting 
up  affected  didos. 

Then  would  come  the  violinist,  and  oh  my, 
how  the  fiddle  with  the  rosin  and  the  bow  would 
send  out  sweet  music  from  the  deft  touch  of  the 
artist  of  the  plains.  Sometimes  it  would  grate 
upon  our  ears  and  then  again  it  would  bring  tears, 
and  the  past  would  loom  before  us ;  then  it  would 
suggest  singing  birds,  green  lanes  and  rippling 
streams,  carrying  us  back  to  the  old  home,  prob- 
ably never  to  be  seen  again.  I  tell  you  the  music 
was  fine.  Of  course  it  wouldn't  do  for  the  Tab- 
ernacle, now,  but  it  was  just  as  good  to  us  then 
as  the  classic  music  is  to  the  cultured  ear  of  to- 
day. It  thrilled  our  souls  and  inspired  us  to  song 
and  duty,  not  only  did  it  affect  our  hearts  and 
our  heads,  but  our  feet  would  beat  time  to  the 
lively  tunes  of  "ye  olden  times,"  salute  your  part- 
ners, swing  to  the  right  and  then  to  the  left  and 
balance  on  the  corner. 


262  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

After  the  dance,  then  songs  of  praise  and  pray- 
ers of  supplication  and  thankfulness  would  be 
wafted  to  Him',  the  Father  of  us  all.  A  few 
minutes  of  hopeful  conversation;  then  hand 
clasps  would  be  given,  the  good  nights  said,  and 
then  to  rest,  our  heads  pillowed  sometimes  on 
our  boots  and  sometimes  on  a  stone.  Many  a 
time  did  I  repeat  "Twinkle,  twinkle,  little  star, 
how  I  wonder  what  you  are,  up  above  the  world 
so  high,  like  a  diamond  in  the  sky."  Many  of 
our  company  died  on  the  way.  When  a  death 
occurred,  the  near  relatives,  poor  souls,  would 
weep  and  wail. 

If  death  came  in  the  morning,  the  body  would 
be  carried  until  noon,  and  then  when  the  train 
halted  for  rest  the  remains  would  be  laid  away 
in  a  shallow  grave,  a  brief  prayer  would  be  of- 
fered and  the  marching  host  moved  on.  This 
same  rule  was  applied  if  a  dear  one  died  in  the 
afternoon,  then  the  folding  away  would  take 
place  in  camp  during  the  evening. 

POSTAL  CARDS 

We  would  at  intervals  come  to  a  spot  a  quar- 
ter of  an  acre  in  space,  God's  acre  forsaken,  cov- 
ered with  bones,  some  human,  some  anim'al, 
bleaching  in  the  sun  on  the  hot  sands  of  the 
American  desert.  The  skulls  and  shoulder 
blades  of  the  buffalo  were  used  for  postal  cards. 
These  bones  blanching  on  the  ground,  became 
white  and  soft,  and  messages  could  easily  be 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  263 

written  upon  them  with  pencil,  or  scratched  with 
a  nail.  These  post  offices  were  used  from  1847 
to  1867. 

"Out  in  the  desert  I  heard  its  cry, 
Sick  and  helpless  and  ready  to  die." 

And  not  a  house  within  a  thousand  miles.  Rest, 
old  pioneer. 

While  sorrows  and  hardships  had  been  with 
the  company  all  along  the  way,  personally  I  had 
not  felt  the  weight  of  the  sadness.  I  had  heard 
the  lamentations  of  parents,  children  and  friends, 
but  I  was  only  a  boy,  and  in  the  buoyancy  of 
youth,  trouble  is  very  m'uch  like  water  on  a 
duck's  back,  but,  whether  old  or  young,  "into 
each  life  some  rain  must  fall." 

In  our  wagon  or  group  we  had  for  our  com- 
panions an  English  family  of  four  in  number,  by 
the  name  of  Burgess,  father,  mother  and  two 
girls,  aged  respectively  ten  and  twelve.  Myself 
and  the  little  girls  had  been  chums.  We  had 
walked  and  run  together  nearly  all  the  way, 
holding  each  other's  hands  in  childish  glee  and 
pleasure. 

Here  is  the  wording  of  a  message  we  left  for 
the  boys  and  girls  of  the  next  train : 

"Captain  Haight's  company  passed  here  July  4th.  We 
didn't  have  any  firecrackers,  but  we  had  lots  of  fun  any- 
how. We  are  all  well  now. 

(Signed)  "W.  P. 

"E.  B. 
"J.    B." 


264  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

As  I  wrote  the  message  on  the  shoulder  blade 
of  a  dead  buffalo,  to  the  next  company,  these  lit- 
tle girls  stood  beside  me,  chattering  and  laugh- 
ing. They  helped  me  frame  the  childish  compo- 
sition on  the  blanched  bone,  the  postal  card  of  the 
desert,  and  the  three  of  us  left  our  mark  for  the 
next  train  of  pilgrims  to  read. 

One  afternoon,  a  few  days  later,  the  younger 
of  the  girls,  Jennie,  we  noticed  could  barely  keep 
up  with  us  on  the  march.  The  older  sister,  Ester, 
and  myself,  each  of  us  grasping  a  hand,  urged  her 
on  with  us,  but  that  night  she  was  taken  sick  with 
a  fever  and  our  marching  together  on  the  alkali 
plain  was  over.  Dear  Jennie  was  ill  for  only  two 
days,  and  in  childish  purity  she  crossed  the  great 
divide,  chattering  with  latest  breath  about  the 
wonders  of  the  plains  and  of  the  hopes  of  reach- 
ing the  valley  of  the  Saints.  Never  shall  I  forget 
the  sad,  solemn,  silent  funeral  of  Jennie,  my 
sweetheart  when  a  boy,  as  the  sun  went  down  on 
the  desert  plain. 

Here,  Ester,  the  older  girl,  and  I  wrote  the 
following  message. 

"Here  we  buried  the  flower  of  our  company,  Jennie 
Burgess,  age  10  years  and  three  months." 

(Signed)  "E.  B. 

"W.  P." 

'The  bodies  and  the  bones  of  those 
That  strove  in  other  days  to  pass, 
Are  withered  in  the  thorny  close 
Or  scattered  blanching  on  the  grass. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  265 

He  gazed  on  the  silent  dead; 

'They  perished  in  their  daring  deeds/ 
This  proverb  flashes  through  his  head, 

'The  many  fail ;  the  one  succeeds.' " 

Our  hearts  were  saddened  at  our  loss,  and  the 
only  ray  of  light  or  gleam  of  pleasure  we  had 
after  this  sorrow  was  the  knowledge  of  nearing 
the  valley  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  Zion,  our  des- 
tination. 

As  we  rolled  down  Emigration  Canyon,  our 
hearts  and  souls  with  joy  did  burn  with  a  co- 
mingling  of  thoughts  and  deep  emotions,  for  we 
were  about  to  realize  our  life's  ambition.  We 
had  gathered  to  the  land  of  Zion,  arriving  in  Salt 
Lake  September  20,  1862. 

My  home  has  been  in  Salt  Lake  City  ever  since. 
I  am  now  nearing  three  score  years,  but  as  I 
travel  on  toward  the  last  river,  my  thoughts  of- 
ten turn  to  the  valleys  and  the  rivers  crossed  in 
hopeful  youth  many  years  ago. 

I  expect  to  meet  Jennie  and  the  old  pioneers 
in  the  valley  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan,  where 
the  plains  will  not  be  grassless,  treeless  and  flow- 
erless.  Always  your  friend, 

W.  L.  P. 

P.  S. — The  Burgess  family  and  the  Price  fam- 
ily became  fast  friends  in  our  new  home  and 
have  remained  so  ever  since.  Ten  years  after 
our  arrival  in  the  valley,  Ester  and  I  were  mar- 
ried and  we  lived  happy  ever  after.  W.  L.  P. 


266  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

THE  NINETY  AND  NINE 

Ira  D.  Sankey. 

"Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  that 
was  lost."— Luke  15 :  4,  5,  6. 

There  were  ninety  and  nine  that  safely  lay 

In  the  shelter  of  the  fold, 
But  one  was  out  on  the  hills  away     , 

Far  off  from  the  gates  of  gold — 
Away  on  the  mountains  wild  and  bare, 
Away  from  the  tender  shepherd's  care. 
Away  from  the  tender  shepherd's  care. 

"Lord,  Thou  hast  here  Thy  ninety  and  nine ; 

Are  they  not  enough  for  Thee?" 
But  the  Shepherd  made  answer : 

"This  of  mine  has  wandered  away  from  me. 
And  although  the  road  be  rough  and  steep 
I  go  to  the  desert  to  find  my  sheep, 
I  go  to  the  desert  to  find  my  sheep." 

But  none  of  the  ransomed  ever  knew 
How  dark  were  the  waters  crossed; 

Nor  how  dark  was  the  night  that  the  Lord  passed 

through 
Ere  He  found  His  sheep  that  was  lost. 

Out  in  the  desert  He  heard  its  cry — 

Sick  and  helpless,  and  ready  to  die. 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  267 

"Lord,  whence  are  those  blood-drops  all  the  way 
That  mark  out  the  mountain's  track  ?" 

"They  were  shed  for  one  who  had  gone  astray, 
Ere  the  shepherd  could  bring  him  back." 

"Lord  whence  are  Thy  hands  so  rent  and  torn?" 

"They  are  pierced  tonight  by  many  a  thorn." 

But  all  thro'  the  mountains,  thunder-riven, 

And  up  from'  the  rocky  steep, 
There  arose  a  glad  cry  to  the  gate  of  heaven, 

"Rejoice!  I  have  found  my  sheep!" 
And  the  angels  echoed  around  the  throne, 
"Rejoice,  for  the  Lord  brings  back  His  own." 


The  Story  of  a  Life. 

By  Rev.  P.  S.  Thacher 

Romances,  sweet,  tender,  beautiful,  are  taking 
place  all  around  us,  and  we  could  read  them  if 
our  eyes  were  quick  to  see. 

Robert  W.  Wolcott.  a  Methodist  preacher, 
while  on  his  way  to  California  in  1853,  to  take 
charge  of  a  church,  was  compelled  to  winter  in 
Salt  Lake  City.  Believing  the  Bible  to  be  the  in- 
fallible word  of  God,  he  could  not  resist  the  con- 
clusion that  Mormonism  had  a  scriptural  basis, 
and  he  became  a  convert  to  that  faith.  January 
17,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Wright, 
one  of  the  belles  of  Salt  Lake.  She  was  one  of 
those  rare  women  to  know  whom  is  to  know  the 
best  that  there  is  in  all  this  imperfect  world. 

Mr.  Wolcott  was  sent  on  a  mission  by  the 
church  the  next  June,  and  crossed  the  plains  on 
a  pack  mule,  and  then  the  sea  to  England.  Here 
he  preached  his  newly-found  faith.  Five  months 
after  he  left  home  his  wife  gave  birth  to  a  baby 
girl  and  he  received  the  portrait  of  his  child  while 
staying  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Mea- 
kin  in  the  town  of  Raunds,  Northamptonshire. 
They  had  a  little  son  John,  then  between  three 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JOHN  PHILLIPS  MEAKIN 
Thirty-six   Years   Married 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  269 

and  four  years  of  age.  While  holding  the  boy 
on  his  knee,  Mr.  Wolcott,  with  delight,  showed 
him  the  picture  of  the  baby,  and  with  a  profound 
and  wonderful  prescience,  remarked,  "You 
will  make  a  good  companion  for  my  little  girl 
when  you  gather  together  in  Zion." 

The  Meakins  lived  laborious,  frugal,  strenu- 
ous lives,  compelled  by  the  whole  weight  of  na- 
ture and  society  to  unremitting  industry,  to 
watchful  inventiveness,  to  austere  simplicity;  but 
lives  also  sweetened  by  family  affection  and 
neighborly  kindness,  strong  in  self-respect  and  in 
the  respect  of  the  community,  dignified  by  a 
sense  of  God  and  their  relations  to  him,  which  en- 
larged the  horizon  of  this  world  into  the  bound- 
less infinite  beyond — earth  winged  all  around  by 
eternity.  The  mother  had  a  bright,  quick  tem- 
perament, was  very  affectionate,  and  had  a  good 
deal  of  the  same  concentrated  nervous  force 
which  characterizes  her  son.  As  for  him,  he  was 
a  thoughtful  child,  growing  up  into  a  brave,  gen- 
erous boy,  small  in  figure,  but  high-spirited,  per- 
fectly fearless  and  showing  that  rigid  conscien- 
tiousness which  was  the  very  root  of  his  life. 

To  this  home  the  visits  of  the  missionary  were 
frequent  and  every  care  and  comfort  was  be- 
stowed upon  him'.  A  firm  friendship  was  estab- 
lished, but  in  the  course  of  duty  he  left  the  Mea- 
kin  home  and  while  on  a  missionary  tour  was 
taken  ill  with  smallpox  at  Northampton  and  died. 
Painlessly  and  peacefully  the  last  sleep  fell  upon 


270  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

the  wornout  body,  and  the  brave  soul  passed  into 
a  higher  freedom.  The  late  James  Sheffield  of 
Kaysville  nursed  him  to  the  last.  The  body  was 
interred  in  the  Northampton  cemetery. 

After  the  lapse  of  fifteen  years  the  Meakins 
sent  their  eldest  son,  John,  then  aged  eighteen,  as 
the  pioneer  of  the  family,  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
where  he  arrived  August  21,  1869.  It  was  the 
crisis  of  his  life,  and  for  three  years  he  had  to  go 
through  it  alone.  He  was  poor  and  toiled  hard 
and  long,  saving  every  cent  he  could  for  the  busy 
parents  at  home.  This  was  motive  enough  for  a 
self-denying  life.  He  had  the  remembrance  of 
a  happy  home  where  his  boyhood  had  been 
passed;  he  had  the  thoughts  of  his  dear  mother 
and  the  lessons  she  had  taught  him.  With  no 
friends  to  help  him,  he  fought  his  battles,  won 
the  esteem  of  those  who  knew  him,  and  be- 
came notable  among  them  for  his  interest  in  mor- 
al science  and  history,  and  for  a  certain  rich  elo- 
quence of  expression.  He  had  an  amazing  mem- 
ory and  an  insatiable  appetite  for  the  acquisition 
of  noble  poetry.  Lofty  ideas  of  perfection  had 
come  into  his  soul,  and  he  tried  to  realize  them 
— and  could  not — who  can?  He  carried  his  un- 
fulfilled life  about  him  like  an  unmated  bird. 

But  in  June,  1872,  he  met  a  young  lady,  un- 
conscious of  who  she  was.  Her  shining,  long- 
lashed,  searching  eyes  haunted  him.  The  smile 
on  her  lips,  the  flush  on  her  cheeks,  her  supple 
form,  had  an  irresistible  attraction  for  him.  The 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  271 

next  month  the  young  couple  met  again,  and 
three  days  later  the  real  .meeting  took  place 
which  made  him  a  captive  for  life.  And  the 
maiden  knew  what  the  youth  knew,  and  in  her 
heart  said  "Amen"  to  the  revelation,  though  it 
took  her  some  time  to  say  it  with  her  lips.  Then 
he  discovered  that  she  was  the  grown-up  daugh- 
ter of  the  "Mormon"  missionary  who  had  dan- 
gled him  on  his  knee  while  showing  her  portrait, 
taken  when  a  baby.  Letters  which  he  had  sent, 
mentioning  the  name  of  the  boy,  were  brought 
out — the  past  became  alive  again.  The  sainted 
loved  one,  who  had  blessed  the  boy,  now  gave  an 
invisible  benediction,  making  their  joy  complete. 
On  the  30th  day  of  July,  1872,  the  couple  be- 
came engaged,  and  on  the  25th  of  the  following 
November  they  were  married  by  Brigham  Young. 
They  have  lived  faithfully  together  during  thirty 
years.  She  is  still  all  the  world  to  him  and  only 
he  who  gave  the  heart  of  woman  its  needs  and 
its  powers,  can  understand  how  this  one  regards 
her  husband.  They  have  been  happy,  for  love 
has  given  them  a  foretaste  of  heaven,  and  they 
have  sent  three  little  m'essengers  before  to  await 
their  coming.  Their  purses  may  not  always  be 
full,  but  their  hearts  are  always  full  of  bright- 
ness, gentleness  and  tenderness.  Their  married 
life  has  been  a  union  of  overflowing  and  perennial 
felicity.  Their  natures  have  blended  as  perfectly 
as  the  different  chords  of  a  musical  instrument. 
Eight  children  have  blessed  their  home,  but  three 


272  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

remained  only  long  enough  for  the  parents  to 
catch  burning  pictures  in  their  hearts,  then  the 
light  faded  out  of  the  little  eyes.  Five  boys,  en- 
viable types  of  physical  and  intellectual  promise, 
remain  to  gladden  the  home.  As  you  approach 
the  house,  almost  any  night,  you  will  hear  music, 
and  think  there  must  be  guests.  But  through  the 
undrawn  curtains  you  see  one  of  the  boys  at  the 
piano,  the  father,  mother  and  boys  singing — the 
grandmother  the  sole  auditor.  A  broad  human 
sympathy  reigns  in  this  home,  quickening  the 
best  powers  of  the  inmates  and  calling  forth  their 
finest  efforts.  A  more  hospitable  family  does  not 
exist — nor  a  happier  home.  The  parents'  faces 
have  grown  older,  but  they  are  never  clouded 
with  gloom.  The  strength  of  love  and  the  tire- 
less energy  that  comes  from  hope  of  the  highest 
things,  have  kept  the  spring  flowers  blooming  in 
their  hearts,  filled  their  lives  with  sweetest  frag- 
rance. 

About  the  happiest  man  in  Salt  Lake  City  is 
John  P.  Meakin,  and  he  may  be  appropriately 
called  "Cheerful  John."  His  unvarying  good 
spirits,  his  pluck,  his  mind  stored  with  beautiful 
poetical  gems,  and  his  unaffected  interest  in  hu- 
manity make  him  a  charming  companion  and  a 
delightful  entertainer.  He  never  fights  for  him- 
self, nor  against  a  private  foe  (if  he  has  one),  but 
goes  into  the  battles  of  the  twentieth  century  and 
follows  the  flag  of  human  brotherhood.  He  has 
been  a  "fraternal  man"  under  the  impression  that 


LEAVES  OF  TRUTH  273 

the  fraternal  organizations  are  the  rallying  points 
of  the  new  movements  for  the  benefit  of  human- 
ity. He  has  the  organizing  power  and  the  quick- 
ening spirit.  His  influence  has  never  been  given 
to  an  unworthy  cause,  but  he  has  kept  his  con- 
science pure  and  stainless.  Clean  hands  has  he 
and  a  noble  heart.  He  does  the  things  that  are 
right  and  never  slanders.  He  is  inaccesible  to 
jealousy,  rancor  or  bitterness,  but  hates  cant, 
satellites,  sycophants  and  fawners.  Moral  cow- 
ardice, mean  truckling  to  political  power  and  the 
base  idol?  try  of  wealth  have  his  contempt.  Great 
is  his  charity.  When  he  feels  that  he  ought  to 
rebuke  a  man,  he  does  it  to  his  face,  and  then 
behind  his  back  says  the  kindest  things  he  can 
consistently  with  truth.  He  never  appears  other 
than  he  is,  never  feigns  feelings  he  does  not  pos- 
sess. His  virtues  are  natural  fruit — do  not  grow 
from  foreign  blossoms.  He  expresses  his  opin- 
ions plainly  and  strongly,  becaue  he  holds  it  the 
duty  of  every  man  so  to  do,  but  no  word  of  pas- 
sion ever  escapes  his  lips,  no  anger  overshadows 
his  face.  A  bright  soul  keeps  him  beaming  with 
good  humor. 

"He  has  done  the  work  of  a  true  man, 
Crown  him,  honor  him,  love  him." 

The  winning  felicity  of  his  manner,  the  varied 
and  flexible  play  of  his  smile,  the  wide  range  of 
his  interests  and  sympathies,  have  won  him  many 
friends  all  over  this,  and  neighboring  states,  and 


274  LEAVES  OF  TRUTH 

they  all  unite  in  the  prayer  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Meakin  may  celebrate,  not  only  their  thir- 
tieth wedding  anniversary,  November  25,  1902, 
but  their  golden  wedding,  November  25,  1922. — 
Salt  Lake  Tribune,  Nov.  23,  1902. 


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We  be  Sweethearts. 

T.  Berry  Smith 

"We  be  sweethearts,  bonnie  lassie, 

We  be  sweethearts  till  we  dee?" 
Looking  up,  her  face  love-lighted, 

"We  be  sweethearts,"  answered  she. 
They  were  young,  the  lass  and  laddie, 

Love  had  bidden  to  his  feast, 
And  their  lives  were  knitted  closely 

When  the  sun  was  in  the  east. 

"We  be  sweethearts,  bonnie  mither, 

We  be  sweethearts  till  we  dee?" 
Looking  up,  her  face  love-lighted, 

"We  be  sweethearts,"  answered  she. 
Round  them  many  a  lass  and  laddie, 

Love  kept  bringing  forth  his  boon, 
And  their  lives  were  knitted  closer 

When  the  sun  was  in  the  noon. 

"We  be  sweethearts,  bonnie  gammer, 

We  be  sweethearts  till  we  dee?" 
Looking  up,  her  face  love-lighted, 

We  be  sweethearts,"  answered  she. 
Grown  and  gone  each  lass  and  laddie, 

Love  brought  forth  his  very  best, 
And  their  lives  were  knitted  closest 

When  the  sun  was  in  the  west. 


If  I  Were  a  Voice. 

"If  I  were  a  voice,  a  persuasive  voice, 
That  could  travel  the  wide  world  through, 

I  would  fly  on  the  beams  of  the  morning  light 

And  speak  to  men  with  a  gentle  might, 
And  tell  them  to  be  true. 

I  would  fly  over  land  and  sea, 

Wherever  a  human  heart  might  be, 

Telling  a  tale,  or  singing  a  song 

In  praise  of  the  right,  in  blame  of  the  wrong. 

"If  I  were  a  voice,  a  consoling  voice 

I'd  fly  on  the  wings  of  the  air, 
And  the  homes  of  sorrow  and  guilt  I'd  seek, 
And  calm  and  truthful  words  I'd  speak 

To  save  them  from  despair. 
I'd  fly  o'er  the  crowded  towns 
And  drop  like  the  happy  sunlight  down 
Into  the  hearts  of  suffering  men 
And  teach  them  to  look  up  again." 

"If  I  were  a  voice,  a  convincing  voice, 

I'd  travel  with  the  wind ; 
And  wherever  I  saw  God's  children  torn 
By  warfare,  jealousy,  spite  or  scorn, 

Or  hatred  to  mankind, 
I  would  fly  on  the  thunder  crash, 
And  into  their  blinded  bosoms  flash, 
Then  with  their  evil  thoughts  subdued, 

I'd  teach  them  HONOR  AND  BROTHERHOOD." 


